PMO photo by Deb Ransom
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“Today, as we recall the senseless and cowardly attacks of September 11, we honour and mourn those Canadians who died on that tragic day,” said Prime Minister Harper. “I would also like to extend my gratitude to the British Garden Memorial Trust for their initiative to expand the garden as a memorial to Canadian victims – a place where families, friends and Canadians will be able to pay their respects for years to come.”
On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent people died in horrific acts of terrorism in New York , Virginia and Pennsylvania . To honour the British victims of these attacks, the Garden was created near Ground Zero. Today, this honour was extended to Canadians and other Commonwealth victims of the attacks as a meaningful gesture of solidarity.
“Though we are not immune to the threat of terrorism, our society is vigilant and resilient. Canada will stand firm with our allies, defending and protecting our democratic values – freedom, human rights and the rule of law – in the hope of a more secure and peaceful world,” added Prime Minister Harper.
The British Garden
The British Garden at Hanover Square is a New York City park, a gift to the City of New York and its people from the Anglo-American community and its friends.
The Garden is privately run by The British Garden Memorial Trust, Inc., and is located near Ground Zero. It was created to honour the British victims of the September 11 attacks and to celebrate the historic ties of friendship and unity between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Garden features City of London style bollards, paving quarried in Scotland and Wales and benches produced in England that were completed in Northern Ireland.
The center stone of the Garden was dedicated on November 1, 2005, by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales (the Garden’s Royal Patron) and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Garden was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2010. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the British Memorial Garden Trust extended an invitation to recognize the Canadian, Australian and other Commonwealth victims of the September 11 attacks in the memorial. The Garden will be appropriately renamed to recognize this expansion.
Each year on September 11, The British Garden holds a memorial concert event attended by families of victims, related key figures, and the general public.
