Anniversary
Photo shows The Wounded Angel of St. Pancras church, dedicated to the victims of the 7th July bombings, and flowers underneath left by some of the passengers of the 8.50am Piccadilly line train that was suicide-bombed, ( 'Kings Cross United'), the London Underground staff, from Kings Cross and Russell Square and the British Transport Police officers who rescued the passengers, and the drivers of the bombed Piccadilly train.
Six months ago we stood together, as we will stand together again tomorrow.
If you would like to think of us, I will share the words of 6 months ago again.
'We are here today in fellowship, to remember our fellow passengers from the morning of July 7th 2005. We think of them often, especially those who did not finish their journey. We think of all those who loved them and knew them. We think of the injured, the desolate and those who mourn. We think of the victims of the other London bomb attacks. We think of all those whose lives were changed by the events of 7th July. We think of the victims of all acts of terrorism'.
ALL: We hold them in our thoughts.
'We think of those who helped us on that morning and afterwards, the staff of London Underground, especially the drivers of our train and the staff of Russell Square and Kings Cross. We think of the police officers, the fire officers, the ambulance drivers, the emergency services, the doctors and nurses and surgeons. We think of the kindness of passers-by and we think of all those who love London and who thought of the people of the city on that day and who held us in their thoughts.'
ALL: We hold them in our thoughts
'We remember our fellow passengers from our train (* you can click on each name to read the obituary and use the back button to return to this page)James Adams, Samantha Badham, Phillip Beer, Anna Brandt, Ciaran Cassidy, Rachelle Chung For Yuen, Elizabeth Daplyn, Arthur Frederick, Karolina Gluck, Gamze Gunoral,Lee Harris, Ojara Ikeagwu, Emily Jenkins, Adrian Johnson, Helen Jones, Susan Levy, Shelley Mather, Michael Matsushita, James Mayes, Behnaz Mozakka, Mihaela Otto,Atique Sharifi, Ihab Slimane, Christian Small, Monika Suchocka, Mala Trivedi'
ALL: We hold them in our thoughts
ALL: When we all got on the train we did not know that for some of us it would be a last journey, and that some of us would not come home.
We did not all finish our journey together, but we carry you in our hearts. To all that loved you, knew you, worked with you, miss you, our thoughts are with you.
Wherever we travel, we know that we are all fellow passengers,and we are with each other on our journey.'
Silence for one minute
A short prayer from the gentle service of Compline, at the end of the day
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake.
ALL: Amen.
Thank you Rachel.
My prayers to all of you. You have 7/7 we have 9/11, I hope we don't have any other days to mark our mental calendars with.
Bless you.
Hi Rachel - my thoughts are with you, I was flying back to see my family on the 7th last year. I only heard as I was about to get on the plane what had happened, and it was only 8 hours later when I finally touched down in Calgary that I was able to get a better idea, and when I got back to my parents in Vancouver that I was finally able to see what had happened. I have been following your blog for some time, and although I am no longer a Londoner I will always feel close to London, and always feel for those who lost their lives and those that survived.vs
Amen Rachel,
regards
Paul Lewis
My mum says that where you find the devil, you will also find angels. In the midst of the darkness, there is an opportunity to let the light shine.
The survivors of the London bombings found each other in the dark tunnels of the underground and helped each other to reach the light that was waiting above. Those who perished are remembered and prayed for.
In 1981, a 25 year-old man entered an engineering department building at the University of Montreal and starting shooting at the female students. In the end, fourteen young women were slain before the man turned his weapon against himself. Every year, across the nation, the young women are remembered and prayed for.
In 1999, two teenagers went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School, killed 12 fellow students and wounded 24 others before turning their weapons against themselves. One student said at a prayer service held to remember the victims soon afterwards, that the shooters weren't people and did not deserve anyone's prayers. No one wanted to remember them, and so they were not prayed for.
Perhaps more than anyone, the young men who carried those backpacks full of darkness into the underground that day need help to climb out. They remain in the confusion, deep in the dark and dank tunnels, while the rescuers have all gone. Remember them, and pray for them. That is all that is required; that is all that is needed, so that everyone makes it back into the light, and no one gets left behind.
Thank you, Rachel, particularly for posting the links to the obituaries so we never forget the precious people that were lost on 7/7. As a Londoner, currently overseas, my thoughts will be with my countrymen on this day but I'll also take time to remember the victims of 9/11, the Bali bombings and all terrorist attrocities everywhere.
Thinking of you today.
My thoughts are with you today and all the other surviours and the families of those who died. All the best for today and for the rest of your future life.
Onwards and upwards.
You'll be in my thoughts today, Rachel. I hope you get through the day with the strength and courage you've shown over the last year. Even as a complete stranger, I'm very proud of the tenacity you've shown and I'm positive your friends and family feel the same.
Bx
I have only just seen your blog whilst searching for something in Google. I live off Cally Road and myself and my children use the transport system regularly and the fear of attack is always in our mind. You are very brave and my thoughts are with you and everyone who suffered and is still suffering from the events of 7/7.
Rachel and all those who read this blog,
Deep breath, honour our dead and those who survived and the enduring spirit of London which has kept us all strong during this year. Stay safe and stay strong. My love and thoughts are with you all today and always.
Jo. xxx
Very moving. Rachel. I have been reading your blog for most of the year. Keep pushing for that inquiry - it is so important.
Love, Gareth
I will be thinking of you, and all who stand with you here or on the other side today.
Also thinking of you today of all days - and of your fellow survivors, and of all those who lost their loved ones a year ago. All best wishes.
Amen. Thinking of you all.
take care rachel..
Thanks for those amazing words. And thanks you for remembering those that were lost to the attacks. My heart goes out to you and anyone else still getting on with their lives after the attacks. The courage and strength it takes to write this all down is a service to us all.
Delurking, because I wanted to send my best wishes to you and your fellow survivors, on what must be such a difficult day for you.
I really appreciate both your blog and your campaign for a public enquiry.
My heart is breaking for the people who lost their lives that day, and for all those who were touched by the awful pain of it all.
Thank you for writing again these words, it's given me a chance to say them and reflect.
Thinking of you, and everyone touched in some way by what happened last year.
Amen indeed, Rachel.
Millions were with you all inspirit, today.
The only thing which marred things for me was to hear that Tessa Jowell, who I believe, told you oly hours ago that she'd have 'meetings' with you, has again told the BBC - there will be NO public enquiry.
Hi Rachel, good luck today
Sad sad sad. May your god go with you.
jon anon
Thinking of you today especially. I have read your blog before and am pleased to pop in again.
Thinking of you today Rachel.
My thoughts are with you today.
Lois Lane
P.S.Rainy Pete sent me.
Thinking of you, the survivors, those injured in physical, emotional and spiritual ways and of course, those who perished.
Peace.
And be mindful of the "Anniverary Effect".
~Deb
Rachel,
Thinking of you from the states today. Hoping your health continues to improve and that others won't have to go through this, anywhere (which is of course a vain hope).
Catherine in midwest USA
A message from a friend in the United States-
As someone who has visited London twice in the past several years, I completely adore your city and your people, with their warmth, humor, and grit. Having been in NY on 9/11, and having witnessed the horrific terrorist attacks on your city, I stand with you in complete solidarity against these murderous ISLAMOFASCISTS who commit these heinous acts. But I beg you, PLEAD with you, to RESIST these terrorists with all the might and soul of your nation. I fear that Britons and Londoners are not doing enough to expel and purge terrorists and their sympathizers from your midst. Now is the time to take a stand for freedom, as men did in the olden time, as Churchill once said. You must embrace your British culture, heritage, and traditions with the strength of your convictions and the fibre of your being. Otherwise, you will lose the collective soul of your nation, and you will have let the enemy, Islamic Fascists, just like the modern-day barbarians they are, into the heart of your country to terrorize at will. God save the United Kingdom.
Best Wishes,
Vince in Florida, U.S.
Saw you on the news last night. I hope yesterday (the 7th) was a healing day to some extent, rather than just a reopening of old wounds. It was a day of reflection for everyone living in Britain today, and rightly so.
I am an American wishing all of you the peace you so deserve.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the rest of us.
Thinking of you and hoping that your wounds are not reopened by the rememberance of this act of unspeakable violence on the innocent but at the same time knowing how important it is to remember.
Patricia
Thank you everybody.
The support of strangers has been one of the loveliest things to come out of a year of strange and sometimes terrible things.
Have a peaceful summer.