Children's project draws to close
The fifth anniversary of 9/11 signals the end of a promise made by Glasgow the Caring City to New York children who lost fathers in the attack there.
The Reverend Neil Galbraith, charity chief executive, tells of a five-year journey to heal their trauma through the New York Kids project.
" When the Twin Towers collapsed, the charity felt helpless.
Our policy is to respond to a major emergency anywhere in the world within 48 hours. On this occasion, we hung back and observed.
Reverend Neil Galbraith before tributes to 9/11 in his church
Soon, we discovered counsellors were falling rapidly because of the trauma. They were feeling the strain.
What was needed was tender loving care. We offered, not aid, not money, we offered to take the kids and wives who lost fathers and husbands serving with the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey on holiday.
We have fulfilled that promise, bringing the kids and their mothers to Scotland.
The Fire Department of New York came on board and relationships were built. We kept going and worked on establishing a support network.
In pictures: New York Kids Project
We ran it and got very close to those involved.
Now, we need to bring the project to a close. The issues have changed: chest complaints among workers, a lasting monument.
We are digging a hole we could find it hard to get out of
What should have turned into a symbol of hope has turned into insurance companies fighting insurance companies.
We've taken New York Kids full circle.
When we took a charity CD called Angels from the Ashes, written by Blair Douglas formerly of [Scottish band] Runrig, to New York in April, we took the baby home.
The project has grown up and 2006 will see it come to a close.
Our job is to set up a project and move on. It is about keeping our promise - we said we'd do it for five years.
We've got to move on and it is time to move on.
In my view, 9/11 changed the course of history.
On reflection, although America had to stand up to the attacks, a wiser head may have taken a more pastoral approach.
Baby's bottles are now searched at airports and soldiers are dying in Afghanistan.
We are digging a hole we could find it hard to get out of.
The Americans have been deeply, deeply hurt. They stood their ground for what they believed in - freedom justice and opportunity.
Now, going to New York can take anything up to four hours to get through customs and immigration. The land of the free is not so free.
Since 9/11 I've learned that no matter where you go, sadly you have to be on your guard.
I think God's creation is now a very fragile entity."
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