Card
Photo credit: Michael Hnatov
Accession Number: T.2019.1.35
Dimensions: 5 in X 7 in X 10 in
Dimensions (Metric): 12.7 cm X 17.78 cm X 25.4 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 12.7 cm X 17.78 cm X 25.4 cm
Credit Line: Collection 9/11 Memorial Museum, Memorial Tribute Archive
Description
Card left at the 9/11 Memorial from the GOAL NY & World Pride Program attendees. The card is dated 6/27/19 with a handwritten note in the card that reads:
We gather, here, on hallowed ground, eighteen years after tragedy tested our resolve and took the lives of our first responder family & our fellow citizens.
We, in our profession, are engaged in a great & meaningful task each & every day: protecting the lives of those around us. And so we come to pay tribute to those who did so before us, on whose shoulder we stand, and who lost their lives in this noble pursuit.
We also pay tribute to the silent deaths that day, deaths that followed years of silent suffering, for we know that many of those whom we lost never lived true, authentic lives. Never had the chance to even try before they were taken from us.
We stand today on their shoulders, too. We honor their sacrifice by serving openly & living our true & authentic lives where they could not. In so doing, the wisdom of one of our forefathers in the gay rights movement comes to mind, "We are powerful because we survived." And so we embrace that power in all that we do and we fight so others never need to suffer in silence.
GOAL NY & World Pride Program Attendees
Card left at the 9/11 Memorial from the GOAL NY & World Pride Program attendees. The card is dated 6/27/19 with a handwritten note in the card that reads:
We gather, here, on hallowed ground, eighteen years after tragedy tested our resolve and took the lives of our first responder family & our fellow citizens.
We, in our profession, are engaged in a great & meaningful task each & every day: protecting the lives of those around us. And so we come to pay tribute to those who did so before us, on whose shoulder we stand, and who lost their lives in this noble pursuit.
We also pay tribute to the silent deaths that day, deaths that followed years of silent suffering, for we know that many of those whom we lost never lived true, authentic lives. Never had the chance to even try before they were taken from us.
We stand today on their shoulders, too. We honor their sacrifice by serving openly & living our true & authentic lives where they could not. In so doing, the wisdom of one of our forefathers in the gay rights movement comes to mind, "We are powerful because we survived." And so we embrace that power in all that we do and we fight so others never need to suffer in silence.
GOAL NY & World Pride Program Attendees
Historical Notes
This card was left at the 9/11 Memorial on June 27, 2019 by members of the Gay Officer's Action League (GOAL). The group visited the Memorial and laid a wreath as part of their World Pride week activities. The card was not sealed in the envelope.
This card was left at the 9/11 Memorial on June 27, 2019 by members of the Gay Officer's Action League (GOAL). The group visited the Memorial and laid a wreath as part of their World Pride week activities. The card was not sealed in the envelope.
