September 11th. 9/11. These acronyms were created from the horror and sorrow of that September day in 2001 when terrorists brought destruction and a loss of innocence to the shores of the United States. The tragedy was so monumental that the date itself has become part of the world's lexicon.

It was not only American lives that were destroyed on that day. Citizens of many nations — including Bermudians Mr. Boyd A. Gatton and Ms Rhondelle Cherie Tankard – paid with their lives, as the cataclysm of terror unfolded.

Even today, six years later, the 9/11 attacks remain fresh in our minds. May we never forget those who suffered and died in that tragedy – as well as their families, friends and colleagues.

My family and I had just arrived in Bermuda two years ago when we learned that two Bermudians had lost their lives in the attack.

And when we realised that there was no 9/11 Memorial in Bermuda, we prayed about the possibility of having a simple Memorial designed and constructed to honour those brave Bermudians – as well as the British, Americans and people of so many other countries — who gave their all on that grave day. We wanted to build a Memorial that would both honour those who were lost and remind us all, in the immortal words of Winston Churchill, that "Freedom isn't free."

We had the Memorial designed in the US – and at first we intended to have it built in the US as well. But as we grew more familiar with Bermuda, we realised that the talented men and women of Bermuda College had the capability and the drive to build the Memorial.

It has indeed been a pleasure working with them – and we thank them for a job very well done.

We also want to thank AON Corporation, who partnered with us in this effort. Of the two Bermudians who lost their lives on 9/11, Ms Rhondelle Cherie Tankard worked for AON. So we were honoured that AON would join us. To the Government of Bermuda, which granted us permission to permanently locate the Memorial at the beautiful Botanical Gardens, we extend our heartfelt appreciation.

And our thanks as well to the leadership of D & J Construction – who provided the equipment and manpower to move the one-ton Memorial from the Bermuda College to the Botanical Gardens.

We hope the Memorial will serve three functions. May it help us all to remember the men and women – our colleagues, friends and neighbours – who paid the ultimate price on 9/11. And in doing so, may it remind us all – once again – that freedom is not free. But may it also serve to underscore the eternal bonds that link Bermuda, the United States and the United Kingdom: bonds of family and friendship, love and sacrifice, honour and courage, democracy and civilization.

It is our hope that these bonds will grow ever stronger over the decades and centuries to come, whatever our differences of the day might be.

We will officially dedicate the 9/11 Memorial at a solemn ceremony on Tuesday, September 11th at 5 p.m. at the Botanical Gardens. You, your family and friends are invited to join us at the Dedication Ceremony – which will be brief.

Please enter the Botanical Gardens from South Road. We hope you will join us, but even if you cannot, we hope that you'll take a moment on September 11th to remember the victims of 9/11 and their families – and the fact that ultimately, freedom is never free.