Eastern Region 1013 "A Good Deed
a Day" Prayer Service
Tzu Chi mourns the victims
of the 911 disaster
As part of the global campaign initiated
by Taiwan, "Let Love Shine on Earth, Let There Be No
More Disasters," the American Eastern Region Tzu Chi
offices held a special prayer service on October 13. Beginning
at 9 a.m., the service took place at Liberty Park, New Jersey,
across from where the World Trade Centers formerly stood.
Tzu Chi volunteers rode the ferry with more than twenty families
who had lost loved ones. Over three hundred people, including
representatives of different religions, the police department,
the fire department, and Knightsbridge International, attended
the solemn occasion and filled it with warmth.
Pier 94 |
At 8 a.m. on October 13, Brother Chen Chi
Hung held a press conference at the Liberty Science Center.
He explained that ever since September 11, Tzu Chi has been
providing emergency financial support at the New York City
Family Assistance Center at Pier 94 and at the New Jersey
Office of Recovery and Victims Center. The assistance is provided
for people who lost loved ones or their jobs as a result of
the 911 attack. As of October 12, Tzu Chi had given $651,129
to 1,039 people. Brother Chen said that the operation is still
continuing and Tzu Chi people will help victims make it through
this dark period in their lives.
The prayer service began at 9:11 a.m. It
was held at Liberty Park in conjunction with prayer services
in Taiwan, which were broadcast simultaneously via satellite.
At 9:11 a.m., the host, Hsiao Tzu Kuang
(Sister Stephanie) announced, "The bell of peace has
rung," and asked everyone to bow their heads for a minute
of silence. As the atmosphere became solemn, Sister Stephanie
conveyed Master Cheng Yen's desire for love to spread throughout
the world. The Master has called for everyone to do a kind
deed each day, so that there will be no more disasters in
this world, and so that the victims will not have lost their
lives for nothing. After that, Brother Stephen Huang, director
of the Tzu Chi Department of Religious Affairs, read a letter
from Master Cheng Yen to comfort the victims' families and
everyone affected by the disaster. Then Tzu Chi volunteers,
dressed in various national costumes, sang "We are the
World." Sister Stephanie explained that the song calls
for us all to embrace the world with all-encompassing love
and treat each other as family.
Presbyterian minister Pamela Haney prayed and spoke first.
She said that as we view the 911 disaster and its aftermath
and as we pray for the families who lost their loved ones,
we should light a flame of hope between us and bring that
light of hope to the world.
Next, Dr. James Laws, a representative from Knightsbridge
International, a Christian organization, spoke about how meaningful
it has been for Buddhist Tzu Chi to work with them in bringing
food and supplies to Afghanistan.
The Director of the Liberty Science Center,
Dr. Emlyn H. Koster, said that he had visited Taiwan three
times, but this was his first encounter with Tzu Chi. After
the 911 disaster, the state government asked him to provide
a location for Tzu Chi to hold this event. After reading the
press material on Tzu Chi, he was very impressed with their
actions.
In addition to these speakers, the director
of the Rescue Center, Lillian Barrone, and representatives
of the police, firefighters, and the Taipei Cultural Center
also spoke of their admiration for Tzu Chi volunteers for
their devotion and efforts in the disaster relief effort.
Brother Stephen Huang ended the service with Master Cheng
Yen's Three Wishes: to purify people's minds, to have a peaceful
society, and to have no disaster in the world.
Among the families of more than twenty victims,
only seven were Chinese. One of the fathers wore pictures
of the son he had lost on his chest and back. It was truly
heartbreaking to see! These families and other guests wrote
their longings and prayers for the victims on little cards
and tied them to red, white and blue balloons. Then they released
the balloons so that their prayers could float upwards in
the hopes that someone would hear those prayers and convey
them to their loved ones. The family members watched the balloons
intently as they flew higher and higher. At this time, everyone
cried and hugged each other for comfort. Everyone was moved
by the scene.
After the prayer service by the river, Tzu
Chi volunteers accompanied the family members into the Liberty
Science Center for a memorial service.
The representative of the Taipei Cultural
Center, Hsia Li-yen, said that after the 911 disaster, the
Taiwanese government was very concerned about Taiwanese and
Taiwanese-American victims. He was touched by how Master Cheng
Yen and Tzu Chi mobilized to provide comfort to victims' families.
He also observed that America's war against terrorism is not
a religious war, but a war between good and evil, and God
will bless America.
A young Filipino-American, Victor Santillan,
spoke for the victims' families. He said that he had lost
a sister and a cousin in the attack. He was grateful to Tzu
Chi for holding this memorial service because this compassionate
gesture alleviated the pain for the families and brought them
hope. He also said that it pained him to lose two loved ones,
but he was not filled with anger or hate.
New York Tzu Chi volunteer Chang Chen-fen
said that she spoke to many victims' families when she was
volunteering at Pier 94. As she heard their stories about
their deceased loved ones, she felt their confusion and difficulty
in accepting what had happened.
Another Tzu Chi volunteer from New Jersey,
Wendy Lee, shared four stories that she had heard. Every story
was filled with tragedy and pain. She said that a month and
two days had passed since the disaster, and Tzu Chi members
had been mobilized for a month and two days. Even though the
entire matter was tragic beyond comparison, she saw and felt
an endless stream of love and comfort. She said seeing so
many volunteers at the disaster relief centers each day, working
hard to provide support, she felt that they were already surrounded
by love and caring.
At the memorial service, a team performed
"Prayer" in sign language. A video called "Manhattan,
Then and Now," provided by the Tzu Chi Great Love television
station, was shown. People exclaimed at the majesty of the
Twin Towers as they stood proudly by the Hudson River. And
as the images turned to the planes crashing into the towers,
sobs could be heard. It brought back people's memories of
the World Trade Center and their longings for their loved
ones.
At the end, everyone held hands and Sister
Yang Shu-ying led everyone in a rendition of "America
the Beautiful." They hoped that with love and support
and prayers, everyone would do a kind deed each day to send
disaster away and let love purify this world.
Around 1 p.m., more than twenty Tzu Chi
volunteers rode the ferry with the family members to where
the World Trade Center used to be, so that they could mourn
their loved ones. As they arrived at Ground Zero, many family
members could not contain their emotions and cried on the
shoulders of the Tzu Chi volunteers. It was heartbreaking
to hear them call for their sons, daughters, and loved ones.
It pained them deeply to view the devastation and rubble.
They returned to Liberty Park around 2 p.m., and concluded
the service.
