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Memorial
service for Bali victims
“…but no matter how far or how wide I roam,
I still call Australia home…”
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Tommy
Emmanuel performs at the memorial service in Washington.
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There
was not a dry eye at a memorial service at the Washington National
Cathedral for the Australians slain in Bali when acclaimed Australian
guitarist Tommy Emmanuel played a soulful and searching rendition
of the song I Still Call Australia Home.
Reverend Peter F. Grandell, of the cathedral, led the service, which
began with the singing of the Australian and US national anthems.
“This heartbroken city, which has seen in the past year a succession
of miseries, today has only comfort and support to offer the people
of Australia,” Rev Grandell said.
More than 700 people attended the cathedral to remember those killed
in the terrorist attack. They included ADF members and families,
expatriate Australians, senior representatives from the US Air Force,
Army and Navy, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, US
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, US Director of Central
Intelligence, George Tenet, British Ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer,
Indonesian Ambassador Soemadi Djoko Moerdjono Brotodiningrat, New
Zealand Ambassador John Wood and scores of foreign embassy representatives.
Secretary Armitage spoke on behalf of President Bush and the people
of America in his remarks to the hushed gathering,
“I know that words alone can never contain our grief, but I
speak for my nation today when I say that America’s hand and
heart go out to the people of Australia,” he said.
Australian Ambassador Michael Thawley presented the keynote address.
“Just like Americans after the events of September 11, we ask
ourselves why has this happened. We are angry, but our demand is
for justice and an end to terrorism, not retribution,” he said.
The attack was "all the more vicious," Thawley added,
because it took place in Bali, which is much loved by Australians
for its “welcoming, peaceful and graceful society”.
He noted that the 180 dead and 300 injured came from 21 countries.
“There is no safe haven from terrorism,” the ambassador
said. “One cannot justify retreating ... we will see this through
with the United States, our allies and our friends.”
The tears welled up as embassy employee Tim Willis presented a moving
reading of Dorothea MacKellar’s poem My Country, which contains
the lines “Though earth holds many splendors, wherever I may
die, I know to what brown country, my homing thoughts will fly.”
Tommy Emmanuel also performed a mournful rendition of Amazing Grace
and finished the service with a choked-up congregation singing Waltzing
Matilda.
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