The following is a corrected version of Washington National Cathedral’s advisory about this weekend’s September 11 Commemoration. All events Sunday morning including the Interfaith Vigil will be held at Washington Hebrew Congregation Sunday evening’s event will be at the Kennedy Center.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 8, 2011
CONTACT: Ari Geller or Meredith MacKenzie, Rabinowitz-Dorf Communications:
(202) 265-3000 (o), ari@rabinowitz-dorf.com (202) 689-4985 (c) or meredith@rabinowitz-dorf.com (202) 427-2007 (c) **Media Advisory** Washington National Cathedral Commemoration of September 11 Moved to Kennedy Center
Washington, D.C.—Washington National Cathedral announced today that due to the crane accident on the Cathedral grounds yesterday, September 7, it will be moving its 9/11 commemorative events to various locations in the area including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the concerts scheduled for Friday night and Sunday night. These events include “A Concert to Honor” featuring Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, the Marine Chamber Orchestra, and United States Navy Band Sea Chanters on Friday, September 9, and culminate with “A Concert for Hope” on Sunday, September 11, which includes remarks from President Barack Obama, and performances by renowned mezzo soprano Denyce Graves, country star Alan Jackson, and R&B legend Patti LaBelle. Saturday’s community day concert will be rescheduled for a later date. Sunday morning’s Interfaith Vigil will take at Washington Hebrew Congregation and will host Sunday’s commemorative Eucharist service along with the forum featuring Karen Armstrong. All confirmed tickets for the Friday and Sunday night concerts will be honored in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
“We are grateful that there were no serious injuries in the crane accident, and while we are disappointed that we will not be able to host our ‘Call to Compassion’ commemoration in the Cathedral itself, we are determined to live out our mission to serve as the spiritual home for the nation as we remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001,” said Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III. “The safety of our visitors and the staff of the Cathedral is our top priority, and we will make no compromises when it comes to that responsibility. At the same time we will not let obstacles put in our way stop us from fulfilling our mission as the spiritual home for the nation.”
At 10:55 Wednesday morning, the construction crane working on the south side of the Cathedral to stabilize debris from the August 23 earthquake fell over. The crane operator sustained minor injuries, was treated, and was released from the hospital last night. The Cathedral itself did not sustain any additional damage during the incident. The Herb Cottage, a gift shop on the grounds, and Church House, the headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, did sustain some minor damages.
Press does not need to request new credentials; current requests are under review. Updated details and schedule follow.
Friday, September 9, 2011—LOCATION: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL—”A Concert to Honor” featuring Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and a performance of the Brahms Requiem to honor the victims of 9/11 and survivors, their families, and emergency response personnel, as well as the nearly 6,000 fallen military service members whose lives have since been lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What: Address by military leaders and the Brahms Requiem performed by the Marine Chamber Orchestra and the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters with the Cathedral Choir
Where: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
When: 7:30–9:30 pm
Saturday, September 10, 2011— POSTPONED—”A Concert to Heal” and Community Gathering Day The Cathedral invites families to attend a free public concert featuring local artists and music encouraging interfaith understanding across cultures and generations to experience healing from loss and division. On this day, we recall the unity Americans felt in the face of the attacks on 9/11, and the common values that helped us become stronger as one nation and one people.
What: Performances by Sweet Honey in the Rock, Ocho de Bastos and other local artists
When: POSTPONED
Sunday, September 11, 2011—Commemorating the tenth anniversary of September 11
The events of the tenth anniversary of September 11 will recognize our darkest moments, and through music, prayer, and conversation, offer hope. The capstone event of the Cathedral’s commemorative weekend will take place on Sunday evening at “A Concert for Hope.” The concert will feature words of wisdom, songs of hope, and messages of peace.
Interfaith Prayer Vigil—LOCATION: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
What: A vigil where participants of diverse faiths will pray together and mark the moments when airplanes struck the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, hit the Pentagon, and crashed in Pennsylvania with the tolling of the largest bell in the Cathedral tower.
Where: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
When: 8:30–10 am
Who: Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III; Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane; Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation; Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche of Tibet, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama; Dr. D.C. Rao, a Hindu priest serving on the Board of Directors of the Inter Faith Conference; Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America; and musician Humayun Khan
Forum on Compassion
What: Guided conversation on what people of faith share in common
Where: WASHIGTON HEBREW CONGREATION
When: 10:15–11 am
Who: Author Karen Armstrong, Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III
Commemorative Holy Eucharist
What: A commemorative celebration of Holy Eucharist
Where: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
When: 11:15 am–12:30 pm
Who: Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane, presider; Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, preacher; the Rev. Dr. Kathy J. Nelson, president, F.I.S.H. Foundation, Inc.
“A Concert for Hope”
What: A program of poetry, reading, reflections, and classical and popular music
Where: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
When: 7:30–9 pm
Who: Speakers including President Barack Obama and performing artists, including Alan Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Denyce Graves and the Marine Chamber OrchestraJUST IN: