Poignant 9/11 remembrance for all

Photo By Staff Sgt. Evan Lane | A participant reaches to light a candle in Mother Theresa Scuare in Pristina, Kosovo during a 9/11 memorial event.  

PRISTINA, KOSOVO

09.11.2011

Story by Spc. Evan Lane 

200th Public Affairs Detachment

PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Ten years after the twin towers fell, many Americans honored the lives lost with memorial ceremonies and quiet moments of reflection. Both at home and abroad, Americans sought to remember the details of where they were when they heard the tragic news.

While Americans may have felt alone on 9/11, they certainly were not alone this past month in paying their respects. People all across Kosovo came together at memorials, just like they have since 2001.

In Pristina, the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated in song the sacrifices of the heroes of Sept. 11. Beginning with “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” the KPO’s associated choir took the audience through the dark moments of 9/11 with two haunting musical arrangements, sung by candlelight.

Ergin Brahimi, first tenor with the KPO and a world-respected classical vocalist, said afterward that he enjoyed the performance very much and accented the importance of remembering those who have been lost.

He and the singers moved out quietly and were replaced by a full orchestra. The mood lightened with the playing of several stirring pieces, which were accented by a beautiful solo of “Air” from “Air and Scherzo” written by Henry Cowell performed by Sgt. Eric Roberts. His light movement through the score well matched the hope of recovery and mending in the wake of Sept. 11.

Roberts is deployed to Kosovo with the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and plays saxophone in his free time. Roberts is a member of the 44th Army Band from Albuquerque, N.M., when not on deployment.

Several more musical performances rounded out a lovely night and the audience, led by Atifete Jahjaga, the president of Kosovo, gave the orchestra a standing ovation, with the president herself thanking Roberts.

She said later, “The performances were all beautiful. The American soldier was astonishing and I enjoyed his playing very much.”

Ambassador Christopher Dell, U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, also complimented the orchestra and said it was an interesting touch to incorporate a U.S. soldier in the memorial, calling it unique and refreshing.

Music was not the only way the people in Kosovo commiserated with Americans, Sept. 11. Following the performances, a candlelight vigil was put together by the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pay silent respect to those who were lost. Locals flooded in to Mother Theresa Square to light their own tapers and to help their children do the same, telling them their memories of 9/11.

Petrit Selimi, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, stated, “This event was organized in order to express the deep gratitude and sympathy the people of Kosovo have for the United States. Every Kosovar keenly felt the tragedy of Sept. 11; everyone remembers exactly where they were on Sept. 11, 2001.”

In addition to playing in Pristina, Bandsteel also played a set earlier that day to a group of U.S. Soldiers and local citizens in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Kosovo, as part of the municipalities’ Sept. 11 memorial service. The set included classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “Johnny Comes Marching Home."

A local girl, Beltine Biqmeti, sang the “Star Spangled Banner” as a show of support to the Americans serving in Kosovo.
Joint Regional Detachment Commander, Lt. Col. Daniel Stark said their memorial service helps maintain ties with the local community. “They’re honoring our loss and that just reinforces our friendship,” he said.

Later in the evening students from a local school performed a play at Ardiana Theater honoring the victims of 9/11 by playing angels contemplating their loss and the senselessness of the tragedy. Naim Ferati, the Ferizaj/Urosevac director of culture, youth and sports, said, “We express our deepest condolences. It was very shocking for everyone around the world.”

With such a vast outpouring of support from a country so far from the United States, Americans can take solace in friendship. “For the Soldiers who are in Kosovo, we love the friendship of the people and when we go back home with our families, we’ll tell them about events like tonight,” said Stark.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2011
• Date Posted: 09.21.2011 09:41
• Story ID: 77360
• Location: PRISTINA, ZZ