Guest guest Posted September 15, 2001 Report Share Posted September 15, 2001 Britons' Bouquets Express a Special Bond > >By T.R. Reid > > >LONDON, Sept. 12 -- On a nondescript traffic island near Grosvenor Square, >somebody tied an American flag 'round an old oak tree early today. Ever >since, a mountain has been growing beside the tree -- a mountain of >flowers, flags, cards, candles, tear-stained notes, pictures, paintings >and a New York Yankees cap. This is the British people's spontaneous >tribute to the Americans who were murdered Tuesday by terrorists. > >There were no instructions about this, no coordination. There are simply >ordinary people who feel a need to send America a message. They are people >like Rob of London, who left a big spray of roses with a >handwritten card: " Dear America, You supported us in two world wars. We >stand with you now. " > >The floral mountain on Grosvenor Square, across the street from the U.S. >Embassy, is the most eloquent sign of a massive outpouring of affection >for the United States and its people that has spread in a hurry as people >watch the horrifying video of New York and Washington over and over again. > >The Union Jack is at half-staff everywhere. London's largest cathedral, >St. 's, has invited every Yank in town to a memorial service on >Friday. The local paper in Ipswich devoted its entire front page today to >a banner headline: " God Bless America. " > >And when the guard changes at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, the band is >going to play, for the first time ever, " The Star-Spangled Banner. " > >In many other cities of the world, U.S. diplomatic missions found their >doorsteps bedecked with flowers -- in Berlin, Toronto and East Jerusalem, >to name a few. > >Outside the embassy in Moscow, piles of flowers, Orthodox icons, stuffed >animals and flickering candles were left to express solidarity. The newly >arrived U.S. ambassador, Vershbow, felt compelled to emerge from >the building to offer thanks on behalf of the Americans working inside. > >Few people, however, feel the connection to the United States that the >British do. The country is seen as their best friend in the world, their >richest market and their closest ally. They feel this even though the >transatlantic alliance is usually marked, on this side, by a certain air >of disapproval, like a vicar grimacing at the antics of an overactive choirboy. > >But now the routine gibes about uncouth Americans have evaporated in the >shock of the terrorist attack. Today, the British view is better >summarized by the card left by the family on the flowers they >brought to the traffic island: " We love you, America, our brothers -- >brothers in arms, brothers in ideals. " > > " We know America is a great country of wonderful people, " said Sharon >, a second grade teacher at London's Brampton Primary School, who >left an oversize card her class had made. " So the students basically >ordered me to bring this card here. " > >Floral tributes are common in Britain. The growing mountain at Grosvenor >Square is similar to, but so far much smaller than, the vast sea of >bouquets that covered London's parks when Princess died in 1997. > >For the most part, the tributes are flowers, generally with handwritten >messages -- in some cases, long letters -- attached. But people bring >teddy bears, T-shirts, cricket bats, baseball caps or whatever else seems >appropriate. Someone left a large photograph, framed in black, of the New >York City skyline, with the now-demolished World Trade Center towering >over all. > >Judging from the cards, most of the tributes have been left by individuals >and families. But some came from businesses, such as the London branch of >a New York firm, which placed this note: " To memory of staff of Alliance >Consulting, 102nd floor, South Tower, World Trade Centre. We now know none >of them got out. " > >There are many bouquets from Islamic organizations. Almost every group and >alliance in Britain's large Islamic community has condemned the attack. > >The floral mountain has also drawn swarms of Americans. Nearly all seem to >give way to tears on the spot. " You know, I've watched the news for 24 >hours straight, and did not break up, " said , a Pennsylvanian >who works in marketing here. " Then I saw this huge act of kindness for our >country and the victims, just out here on the street. Now I can't stop crying. " Marty Kanter shadow44@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2001 Report Share Posted September 16, 2001 - Thanks Marty for forwarding this to us. It was very interesting and it really does help to know that others care. Shirely -- In duodenalswitch@y..., Marty Kanter <shadow44@o...> wrote: > Britons' Bouquets Express a Special Bond > > > >By T.R. Reid > > > .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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