Posted on 07/22/2002 12:54:23 PM PDT by knighthawk
A plaque commemorating Australians who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks will be unveiled in New York on the first anniversary of the catastrophe.
American Society of Sydney secretary Shela Fite plans to present the black marble memorial to the Australian consulate and American Australian Association in September.
The 15kg plaque will bare gold engraving which reads: "In memory of the Australian victims of September 11. Presented by the American Society of Sydney, Australia, September 11, 2002."
Ms Fite hopes the plaque will be displayed alongside all the other tributes at ground zero or at the Australian consulate, although nothing has been confirmed.
Ms Fite is originally from Louisiana but moved to Sydney to live in August last year.
She arrived at the idea of a memorial to remind Australians of the shock that caused tremors around the world.
"It's important to me to let the Australian people know that it's not just about the Americans," she said.
"It is about everybody, everybody in the entire world ... I want to be able to give something to the Australian victims and their memory.
After the attacks, Ms Fite kept vigil at the American consulate in Sydney for a fortnight to lend her support to those who had lost loved ones.
"I grieved for everybody who died and grieved for all the pain and fear that everyone experienced," she said.
Ms Fite is travelling to New York this week to finalise plans for the presentation.
Official plans for the Australian government's involvement in the September 11 anniversary are yet to be confirmed.
All non-islamists, that is.
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