1 January 2011
The National Museum of Australia is marking the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington with displays which directly connect Australia and Australians to the hijacking and destruction of passenger aircraft by terrorists in the United States.
Personal items belonging to Yvonne Estelle Kennedy, a retired Red Cross worker from Sydney, who died when American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked by terrorists and crashed onto the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, will be on display at the National Museum until December, 2011.
The items, including Yvonne Kennedy's recovered wallet, a Red Cross uniform with her badges and medals and objects relating to the Pentagon Memorial, were donated to the National Museum by members of Yvonne Kennedy's family and the Red Cross.
In a statement the Kennedy family said; 'The events of September 11, 2001, took our mother from us and left the world to face many challenges. For our family we share those challenges, but in addition we also have to live in a world without our mother in it.'
'It is now a great honour that we can share this collection of items with the nation so that every Australian can remember and reflect on the life of our mother and the other 9 Australians who died on September 11.'
'Not only are these items of great personal importance to us but we feel that their historical significance was good reason for them to be available to all at the National Museum of Australia. We hope that this collection sheds light on how this global event is intimately tied to the families of ten Australians who will always be sorely missed,' the Kennedy family said in a statement.
'The events of September 11 were momentous and had far-reaching consequences for Australia and Australians. As a national museum it is important that we acknowledge this impact at a national level and in deeply personal stories,' said Andrew Sayers, Director of the National Museum of Australia.
Also on display at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra is a soiled, crumpled Australian flag which was excavated from the site of the World Trade Centre in New York.
The flag is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes in the World Trade Center Three's 22-storey Marriott Hotel which was destroyed in the attack on the Twin Towers. The New York Police Department Emergency Services Unit presented the flag to Australia's Consul General in August 2004.
The National Museum of Australia also preserves items from the 2002 Bali bombing and the attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
For details please contact Caroline Vero on 02 6208 5338, 0438 620 710 or media@nma.gov.au