September 11 Memorial Garden

Ambassador William Farish and Tessa Jowell planting white roses in the memorial garden in Grosvenor Square on July 7, 2003. (Embassy photo)

A permanent memorial garden to those who lost their lives in the United States on September 11, 2001 has been built by the British government in Grosvenor Square Garden, London, which is bordered on its west side by the U.S. Embassy. The memorial's official opening was on September 11, 2003.

On Monday, July 7, 2003 Tessa Jowell, the U.K. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Ambassador William Farish planted white roses in memory of those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States of America.

White roses have a special significance for the U.K. families of those who died on September 11. The white Bianca Rose formed part of HM The Queen's bouquet at the Westminster Abbey service, and each of the families laid one white rose outside the Abbey, in an Act of Remembrance for their loved ones.

At the first anniversary service at St. Paul's Cathedral, over 3000 white rose petals (one for each victim) cascaded from the Whispering Gallery to the Altar below. It is therefore fitting that white roses should form a significant part of the planting within the memorial garden.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issued a media Briefing Note on the July 7 event.