Media Advisory For immediate release
New York City, NY Tuesday, September 07, 2010:INTERFAITH COMMUNITIES COMMEMORATE VICTIMS OF 9/11 WITH TRADITIONAL JAPANENSE FLOATING LANTERN CEREMONYSEPTEMBER 11, 2010 A traditional Japanese floating lanterns ceremony commemorating the victims of the Word Trade Center tragedy will take place on Saturday, September 11 at Pier 40 (south side) from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Rev. T.K. Nakagaki of the New York Buddhist Church will lead the ceremony with the assistance of the Interfaith Center of New York, other religious leaders representing many different faiths, and the New York Kayak Company.This ritual is similar to one held in Hiroshima each year where people gather to float lanterns in remembrance of the victims of the atomic bombings and all victims of war. Special to this year’s event will be an exclusive piano and drum performance to remember the 65th Anniversary of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki atomic bombings, and played on the HIBAKU Piano that survived the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. The event is FREE and members of the public are invited come early to write loved ones’ names or a peace message on a lantern.This moving tradition takes on even more significance given the heighten attention of the Parks51, the proposed community center and Muslim prayer space near Ground Zero (formerly known as Cordoba House). Food will be donated by the United Sikhs.Pier 40 is located at the west end of Houston Street on the south side of the Pier. It can also be reached by subway by taking the #1/9, train to Houston Street and walking west.
