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Israel

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Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron
At September 11th Memorial Dedication
Manhattan Plaza, Eilat
September 4, 2003 at 6:00 PM

    Mayor Kadosh; General and Mrs. Shefi; family and friends of September 11th victims; residents of Eilat; guests:

    Thank you for inviting me to take part in this dedication. And let me offer a special thanks to the Eilat Fire Department Honor Guard for their presence and the symbolic display of their firefighting equipment.

    September 11th was not solely an attack against Americans; the tragedy affected families, communities, and nations throughout the world. In all, over 3000 people were killed from more than 90 countries. It is impossible to know how many lives were changed forever by these deaths; the actual number of victims is immeasurable.

    This ceremony, taking place thousands of miles from New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., but among people who feel a personal connection to the victims of September 11th, illustrates the scope of the tragedy better than any numbers or list of countries can.

    We have come together to remember all the victims, including four Israelis who lost their lives: Alona Avraham, Shay Levinhar, Daniel Lewin, and Hagay Shefi. Earlier, we heard from Hagay's father, General Dov Shefi. I would like to give special thanks to General Shefi for his efforts to ensure that we never forget the heroes who died on September 11th.

    Despite the shock and sadness that remains with us, we must celebrate the lives of those who perished; this is the best way to honor them. To this end, I would like to share some thoughts about the Israeli victims.

    Alona Avraham was a treasured member of large family from Ashdod. She was traveling from coast to coast when her flight from Boston to Los Angeles was hijacked.

    Shay Levinhar's life was taken shortly after he celebrated the birth of his daughter, Sapir. Shay moved to New York with his wife, Liat, five years before the tragedy. Shay was energetic, hard-working, and eager to learn as much as he could about America.

    Daniel Lewin was born in Denver, Colorado, (my home state), and raised in Jerusalem. Daniel's ties to both America and Israel are a symbol of the common bond between our nations. He left a wife and two sons. With the passing of Daniel, a brilliant mind was lost. Daniel excelled in his studies at the Technion and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and went on to found his own company.

    Family was at the core of Hagay Shefi's life. He was a loving husband to his wife, Sigal, and devoted father to his children, Roy and Naomi, with whom he spent all of his spare time. He was also a dear son to his parents, Dov and Esther.

    Hagay balanced his family life and career with ease. He was a businessman from birth: he made his first deal at the age of five. He went on to receive an M.B.A. from Bar-Ilan University. In 1992, he moved to the U.S. where he quickly ascended the corporate ladder. At the age of 29, he was named President and CEO of SunGard Data Systems, Inc. Hagay's success culminated in the founding of his own company, GoldTier Technologies.

    Hagay also served his country with distinction. In 1992, he was awarded a Distinguished Officer Certificate.

    By reflecting on the lives of these extraordinary people, we realize that each victim has a unique story, and we better understand the true toll of September 11th. As we approach the second year since this act of terror took place, thousands of communities around the world are preparing commemorations.

    All of us know exactly where we were and what we were doing when we first heard the unbelievable news of the horrendous events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. It was in Washington on a bright Tuesday morning, beginning consultations at the State Department in preparation for assignment to Israel.

    I will never forget the feeling of desolation, the inability to even mentally process what had happened, as my wife and I walked along the deserted streets of Washington to the edge of the Potomac, where we watched smoke pour from the Pentagon.

    On that day the terrorists assaulted our faith, values, and way of life. They tried to cause chaos and disunity, but their attacks had the opposite effect. Today, we stand together - Americans, Israelis, and all who lost family, friends, and compatriots, as one people, resolved to fight terror and to remember the victims of September 11th.

    Thank you again for asking me to share this solemn remembrance with you. May the memory of your loved ones be blessed.




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