Sept. 11 Bear
Title
Sept. 11 Bear
Description
One of the items on display at the Alumni Center Art Exhibit. On 4/16/08, as part of the Day of Remembrance observance, the Holtzman Alumni Center Museum displayed examples of art, crafts, quilts, and other memorabilia contributed since April 16, 2007. This is one of over 60,000 items that will eventually go to Special Collections at Newman Library.
A teddy bear from the Voices of September 11th sent to President Steger with a letter that said:
"On behalf of the staff and members of Voices of September 11th, I wish to offer my deepest and heartfelt condolences for the tragedy which the Virginia Tech community has suffered. Like September 11, 2001, your loss is one of national proportions, devastating your individual families and community, but also weighing on the hearts of those who you may never meet.
After the death of my 24-year-old son in the attacks on the World Trade Center, my family received an outpouring of support from around the world. Of the most poignant and memorable was a small teddy bear carrying a message of hope. Such a tangible symbol of caring and support helped us to stay strong in those trying days and weeks.
From one community affected by a senseless act of violence to another, I offer you these teddy bears not only as a gesture of goodwill, but as a promise of support. Our doors both literally and figuratively are open to you. I hope that as your collective journey of healing begins, the lessons we have learned workig with the 9/11 families and others traumatized by terrorism may serve...to you in the months and years to come. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely yours,
Mary Fetchet
Founding Director
Voices of September 11th"
A teddy bear from the Voices of September 11th sent to President Steger with a letter that said:
"On behalf of the staff and members of Voices of September 11th, I wish to offer my deepest and heartfelt condolences for the tragedy which the Virginia Tech community has suffered. Like September 11, 2001, your loss is one of national proportions, devastating your individual families and community, but also weighing on the hearts of those who you may never meet.
After the death of my 24-year-old son in the attacks on the World Trade Center, my family received an outpouring of support from around the world. Of the most poignant and memorable was a small teddy bear carrying a message of hope. Such a tangible symbol of caring and support helped us to stay strong in those trying days and weeks.
From one community affected by a senseless act of violence to another, I offer you these teddy bears not only as a gesture of goodwill, but as a promise of support. Our doors both literally and figuratively are open to you. I hope that as your collective journey of healing begins, the lessons we have learned workig with the 9/11 families and others traumatized by terrorism may serve...to you in the months and years to come. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely yours,
Mary Fetchet
Founding Director
Voices of September 11th"
Creator
Kacey Beddoes
Date
2008-05-09
Contributor
Kacey Beddoes
Rights
Kacey Beddoes (kbeddoes@vt.edu)
Language
eng
Files
Citation
Kacey Beddoes, “Sept. 11 Bear,” The April 16 Archive, accessed October 31, 2024, https://april16archive.org/items/show/2318.