In large part, the nation has moved on from the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. Events were held to mark the two-year anniversary last month and then, once again, everything returned to normal.
Except for the families of the victims.
One organization is still rallying in memory of those whose lives were lost and in support of those left behind.
One Voice, a regional nonprofit vocal group, will acknowledge the sad event with a benefit concert for four children of fathers who died on Sept. 11. "United We Stand: A Concert in Remembrance of 9/11" will be held Sunday.
One Voice performs concerts every year to benefit various organizations in the area. The group was started 15 years ago when two solo vocalists decided to use their talents to assist their community.
Members of One Voice are spread throughout the Delaware Valley. The group’s public relations chairperson, Virginia Buck, a resident of 15th and Snyder, has been an active member since the early 1990s.
Buck, like the other One Voice members, is a solo vocalist. She made her singing debut at age 3 and, just five years later, began performing with her sisters in a three-part harmony group produced by her father. She remembers meticulously practicing each song for the family shows. Nowadays, Buck can be found on Tuesday nights at Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, 847 N. Third St., singing with all of her heart and soul.
The rest of her energy goes into planning events as a dedicated member of One Voice.
Buck said the singers feel especially motivated about this year’s cause.
One Voice had initially planned to carry out the benefit concert for the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11, but complications arose.
"For the first-year and even the second-year anniversary, we felt it was the best thing to put our efforts into," Buck said.
In her position as the public relations chair, she is responsible for distributing press releases about the "United We Stand" concert. As she does for all One Voice events, Buck has been spending her days calling newspapers and television stations to promote the concert.
Even though it can be a lot of work, "it’s always exciting putting an event like this together," Buck said.
The concert, which will be held at the Allens Lane Art Center, Allens Lane and McCallum Street, will feature performances by One Voice members and the Tom Lawton Jazz Trio.
The group learned of four students in the Delaware County area whose fathers died in the Sept. 11 attacks, Buck said. Three of the students’ fathers were New York City firefighters and the other was a chef in the World Trade Center.
All of the money raised through the concert will go to a college scholarship fund for the students. One Voice also will raffle off gifts from local stores and businesses and sell 50-50 raffles. SPR
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"United We Stand: A Concert in Remembrance of 9/11" will be held Sunday, 3-6 p.m., at the Allens Lane Art Center in Germantown. Parking will be available on the premises and tickets ($20 in advance, $22 at the door and $15 for students) can be obtained through members of the organization. To purchase a ticket, call Virginia Buck at 215-551-6127.
