The Schiller Institute NYC Chorus will present a live concert on Friday, September 9th, to memorialize those who died during the attacks on September 11, 2001, and to remember those first responders who risked their own lives to save others.

Of the nearly 3,000 fatalities on that day, one out of every seven was a first responder, including 343 FDNY firefighters, and 60 NYPD and PAPD police officers. Many gave their lives then, many more have died since then and many more continue to suffer from the effects of that ordeal.

time: Friday, September 9, 2020, 6:30 pm

location: Irish Hunger Memorial at North End Ave & Vesey St

Please RSVP below and plan to attend in person or watch it here.

Each year since its founding, the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus has presented a memorial at a different location in New York or New Jersey, each time with a different perspective.

One of the lesser known or appreciated stories of spontaneous heroism was the courageous boatlift evacuation of people trapped along the water at the southern edge of the island of Manhattan. With all bridges and tunnels closed off, there was no escape from the inferno except the water. Boats began picking people out the water, off the walls and off the river edge. As more and more people gathered, and more boats came to help, US Coast Guard Commander (now Admiral) Michael Day saw the unfolding catastrophe along the shoreline, with overfilled boats threatening to capsize and people even jumping into the water, attempting to swim to safety. He got on the radio and put out a call to “All available boats: anyone wanting to help with the evacuation of lower Manhattan report to Governor’s Island.” Within 15 minutes, the New York Bay filled with boats of all sizes rushing into danger: pleasure craft, tug boats, Staten Island Ferries, NY Waterway and other ferries and tour boats.

The result was the largest sea evacuation in history, rescuing hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of hours; more than the 9-day evacuation of soldiers from Dunkirk during WW II.

The chorus will present a program of a cappella music and speakers at the west wall of the Irish Hunger Memorial at Vesey St, facing the Brookfield Place Ferry in Battery Park City. 

Since the terrible 9/11 attacks, the world has remained gripped by terror in many forms to this day. Let us remember, so that the death and suffering of our friends shall serve as a force to defeat this evil.

The Memorial is free and open to the public,
but much needed donations to the chorus are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your support!

links:

Boatlift, narrated by Tom Hanks
https://youtu.be/18lsxFcDrjo

Sandy Hook Pilots Association
https://www.sandyhookpilots.com/

USCG video interview Lt. (now Admiral) Michael Day 
https://youtu.be/Jw8kCPIwIy8

Tunnell to Towers Foundation
https://t2t.org/