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 PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 15, 2012
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Press Contact:
Gary Green
(212) 422-3520 Ext 141
(347) 452-3663
ggreen@tributetwtc.org
Japan Press Contact:
Ikuyo Yanagisawa
090-3978-0931
9/11 Tribute Center Volunteers to Assist Japan Tsunami Victims
September 11th Families' Association to Provide Face to Face Support for Survivors and Responders During Eight Day Visit
(New York - Oct. 5) - The September 11th Families' Association is sending a delegation to Japan to provide face to face support for survivors and responders of the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. From October 21-28, the delegation will visit Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures to meet with disaster victims, responders, and medical personnel in a series of meetings to share ways that the September 11th community has met challenges of unexpected loss and has moved forward with recovery.
The American delegation, comprised of 9/11 families, area residents, and survivors, will share stories and provide insights into the ongoing processes of emotional and physical recovery. "We hope we can help people better understand the way in which grief can be transformed into actions toward a better world through education and understanding," said Lee Ielpi, Board President of the September 11th Families' Association.
The group of six volunteer educators along with Mr. Ielpi, and Meriam Lobel, Curator, will be in Japan from October 21 to October 28, visiting all three prefectures which were impacted by the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. At the conclusion of the trip, the group will share their experiences with the Japanese Association for Emergency Psychiatry at its 20th annual meeting in Nara on October 28.
This project has been developed in collaboration with the Japanese Medical Society of America, Rotary International and the Japan Society in New York, which have been engaging in relief in the Tohoku region since 2011. Their visit will include the presentation of a memorial made of steel from the World Trade Center at a ceremony at Kaiseizan Park, Koriyama, on October 25. At the conclusion of the trip, the group will share their experiences with the Japanese Association for Emergency Psychiatry at its 20th annual meeting in Nara on October 28.
"This is an outreach effort I have wanted to undertake since the disaster occurred," said Lee Ielpi. I believe that based upon our experience of 9/11, we understand and empathize with the feelings of profound loss and the ongoing challenges of moving forward. We hope to provide inspiring messages of the transformation from despair to hopefulness as we have accepted help from others and have participated in the rebuilding and revitalization of our city. Many of the people who have come to hear our stories over the past 6 years are visitors from around the world. 9/11 has taught us how small the world really is. We are grateful to be able to support other communities impacted by disaster."
The project has been made possible by core support from the United States-Japan Foundation and by American Airlines which has generously provided transportation to Japan.
Media opportunities will be available at the following events:
October 22 15:00
Tree of Hope, Rikuzen Takada, Iwate Prefecture
October 22 18:00
Concert "Tribute for 3.11", Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture
October 24 14:30
School Visit, Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture
October 25
Memorial Installation "Tribute to Japan", Kaiseizan Park, Koriyama, Fukushima
Prefecture; presentation of memorial fabricated from World Trade Center steel
October 27 18:30
Reception, Kasuga Shrine and Todaiji Temple, Nara Japan
About the 9/11 Tribute Center
The 9/11 Tribute Center is located at 120 Liberty Street along the south side of the World Trade Center site. The center was created by the September 11th Families' Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan. By engaging visitors in the authentic experiences of those most affected by the events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, the center's five galleries and its walking tour program convey the courage, loss, heroism, and grief of those who responded to the tragedy.
The 9/11 Tribute Center is open seven days a week: Mondays, and Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 10AM to 6 PM; Tuesdays from noon until 6 PM; and Sundays from noon to 5 PM. Walking tours of the 9/11 Memorial are also conducted daily. For further information please visit our website, www.tributewtc.org.
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