9/11 Remembered

On 13th September 2001, 2 days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America an unprecedented event took place at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen personally requested that the Band of the Coldstream Guards play ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the changing of the Guard Ceremony that day. It was a powerful and moving show of solidarity between the two nations and was completely unexpected to the crowds who had gathered that morning.

What made this so special was that no other nation’s anthem had been played at the ceremony, and the bands usually only play them for visiting foreign leaders.

Footage (ABC News) shows the crowds emotional reaction, some waving The Stars and Stripes others just in silent thought.

Watch here

The following month the same band joined the Pipes and Drums of the Scots Guards in a goodwill tour of New York as a gift from people of Great Britain to the people of New York. It was called ‘Unity Solace and Hope’.