Here in America, September 11th has become a de facto national day of grieving. In New York, thousands gather at the 9/11 Memorial to hear the bell toll for the anniversary of when each plane struck, and to hear the list of victims read aloud. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, people gather at the Flight 93 Memorial, to remember the victims on that flight who fought back and got the plane down before it reached its destination (likely the White House). And at the Pentagon as well, there are memorials and services.
Whenever I hear about London’s BGC Charity Day, I always think that we should do something like that on 9/11 too – the BGC Charity Day is always on 9/11, and celebrities and royals become “traders for a day” and ask rich people to pledge money for charity. It’s a way to honor the British people (mostly traders) who also died on 9/11, most of whom worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and EuroBrokers. I think something like that would work so well here in America. But for now, the Brits do it and the Americans simply mourn on 9/11.
This year’s BGC Charity Day got some big names – Kit Harington was on the phone, getting charity pledges and making one of his first post-rehab appearances. Prince Harry also joined in, as he has on past Charity Days. Harry apparently closed on a billion-Euro deal!
Prince Harry just closed a £1 BILLION UK Sterling government bond trade – known as Gilts. One of the largest trades in the market over the past 5 years. @BGCCharityDay #PrinceHarry pic.twitter.com/dni0qZQYKE
— Sarah Hajibagheri (@SaraHajibagheri) September 11, 2019
Kit couldn’t have taken the time to throw on a suit? Anyway, this is a great idea. And I wish America would take the time to make 9/11 something proactive and positive. Making it about helping others would be awesome.
I love that they do this (but obviously hate the reason behind it.)
Is the billion dollar deal from Prince Harry for charity? I don’t understand that part of it.
BGC Charity Day is a great initiative. Yesterday was also the fifth anniversary of the Invictus Games, this is huge and Harry is only 34. Bravo!
Great job, Harry!
Harry is a mensch and real man. His brother, not so much. You set the example, Harry. You are your mother’s son.
YES! Couldn’t say it better.
We do the exact same thing here at Cantor Fitzgerald. They also play a bunch of “I love you/goodbye” phone calls from the top of the tower before people jumped. It’s horrific.
That’s horrible! I’d hate to listen to those last messages before death, especially as they were meant for loved ones, not me.
I don’t quite understand but That sounds morbid.
We had a family friend that worked for Cantor Fitzgerald. I think having to hear his goodbye vm would break me.
I lived in the US for a short while and met a lot of people my age who had lost family members and friends on 9/11, so even though I’m not american I always remember their stories and their grief. Mourning is natural but I agree that this date could also be remembered in other ways, too.
We morn because it actually happened here. That said, I like what the Brits are doing and think it’s fine if we did it too along with the solemn ceremonies.
British people died there and British people lost Americans who mattered to them too. The first plane went straight into my firm’s Head Office. There were people in my local office, in the UK, on the phone to people in the WTC when that plane hit. Some of the people who jumped rather than burn will have been from my company. I didn’t know anyone personally but I will never forget that day and days after when people in my office in the UK, couldn’t get updates on client matters because everyone they knew to ask was dead. All the overtime we got, rebuilding files that we had seen on tv littered around the streets of New York, files filled with the correspondence of dead people. And we thought, there but for the grace of God because it was our company, just in another place and we could have easily been there visiting. Due to my day job I got to read lots of court papers relating to 9/11: I was generally used to working with distressing stuff and not being bothered, the only work thing that ever made me cry was reading a wife’s account of staying on the phone with her husband, trapped in the WTC, until the bitter end. So in summary – people thousands of miles were affected and have never forgotten.
Where I live (usa) 9/11 is a day of service. People take off work and do something for charity.
They do literally the exact same thing every year at the New York Cantor Fitzgerald…
Sigh. The wrong son will be king!
Good for Harry.
When I remembered what date it was I was surprised because I can’t believe how much time has passed. It still feels so recent.
September 11 is now officially a National Day of Service in the US where lots of companies (at least here in NYC) give their employees the day off to go and help others. There was a large crowd at The Intrepid Museum today packing meals for the homeless and there are lots of other ways to volunteer your services for the day.
I think a Day of Service is a great way to honor those lost that day. I don’t know anyone who has actually gotten the day off to volunteer, but we can all do something good or kind today.
This is a great idea but I wonder if it’s just a NY thing. I work for the federal government and we don’t get off, but of course that’s a bit difference, but I also don’t know anyone else who gets off that day, for any reason.