September 23 Helicopter Crash Memorial Service

Taplejung crash victims remembered in US Kantipur




Memorial Service: September 23 Helicopter Crash: Nepal 1
Memorial Service: September 23 Helicopter Crash: Nepal 2

In Remembrance of all those who were tragically lost in the helicopter crash on
September 23, 2006 in Nepal

You are invited to attend

The Memorial Service in New York City

Theresa Lang Auditorium
55 West 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue)
the New School

Sunday, November 12th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

R.S.V.P: Indiachina@newschool.edu or tamusociety@gurungs.org
(Seats are limited)
Phone: 212 229 5600 ext. 3870

Refreshments will be served
Formal attire recommended

The Conveners

India China Institute, The New School and The Gurung (Tamu) Society, USA

In Cooperation with

Adhikar

Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal

America Nepal Friendship Society

Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Association of Nepali Teraian in America

Friends of Nepal New Jersey

Global Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal

Hamro Nepal

Kirat Yakthung Chumlung of USA

Langhali Association of USA

Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA

Nepal Kirat Rai Association of USA

Tamang Association of USA

Thakali Seva Samaj, USA

The Kirat Rai Association of America

Yolmo Society of America

United Nepalese Democratic Forum

United Sherpa Association, USA



Music by Steve Curtis, solo guitar

Video Recording by Moktan Digital Video Inc.


The Program for NYC Memorial Service
(@ The New School, November 12, 2006)


Seating - Offerings - Music (1:00 PM – 1:30 PM)
Music - Steve Curtis, solo guitar

Prayers & Remembrance (1:30 PM – 3:00 PM)

Welcome Remarks – Ashok Gurung, The New School
Remembrance & Moment of Silence - Navin Rai, World Bank

Reading of Names & Slide Images:
Anil Shahi & Sanjaya Parajuli

Inter-faith Prayers

Remembrance – By Family & Friends

Chris Holme
Totraman Gurung (TBC)
Jason Maskey
Milan Rai
Tsewang Sherpa or Mingma’s son (TBC)
Messages from Family Members

A Poem

Remembrance: Government & Organizational Representatives

Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations
Consulate General of Canada, USA
Consulate General of Finland, USA
Office of the Mayor, New York City
United Nations
United States Agency for International Development
World Bank
World Wildlife Fund, USA

Closing Comments

Tara Niraula & Ashok Gurung

Refreshments (3:00 PM- 4:00 PM)


Dear Friends:

As we are fast approaching the memorial service on Sunday, Nov. 12th, please note the following:

(1) First and foremost, I want you to know that how deeply I am moved by and very appreciative of your very warm spirit and wonderful cooperation, as conveners and friends, in organizing this very important memorial service in NYC. With your help and support, plans for organizing the service are progressing very well.

(2) Attached, please find revised information. Sorry about any errors in previous versions as I learned that United Nepalese Democratic Forum, an active convener, was not on the list. Please note that this information will be reformatted and printed as a program handout on Sunday. Please review it carefully and let me know if there are still errors or someone is not on the e-mail list.

(3) Given the enormous swelling of interest and support from both Nepalese and others, including 20 participating organizations, I am seriously concerned about the seating capacity (maximum 200 people). While I recognize that it's both difficult to manage the RSVP system, especially in Nepali community, we need to be prepared for the overflow problem. Please send this revised information to your contacts and emphasize seating is limited and it's important to send RSVP. Please send your list of people who have confirmed by 9 PM on Friday evening. I need a volunteer who would help compile a list by Saturday morning and make sure that those who have RSVP-ed should get priority in attending the service, where as others would be allowed on first-come-first-serve basis. If we exceed 200 people then we need to be polite but strict in saying sorry because the New School Security will not allow us to go beyond 200.

(4) Several people and organization are sending us written messages. As Conveners, we would welcome any written condolences/words of remembrance for either a particular person or all, in general. Messages will be complied and copies will be made and sent to appropriate family members after the service. We will also send a video/DVD copy of the memorial service to family members and conveners.

(5) Thanks to Steve Curtis, a renowned musician and a Nepal scholar, for volunteering to sharing your music talent with us. Thanks to Moktan Digital Video for volunteering to video record the memorial service. Thanks to Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, especially Anil Shahi and Sanjay Parajuli for volunteering to organize the slide images and poster. Thanks to the Langhali Association for voluntarily contributing $151 for the event.

(6) While space and extra costs associated with the use of facility on Sunday will be take by the India China Institute, we woudl still need funds to cover various costs such as refreshments, posters, printing materials, mailing, and enabling a few family members to attend the service. While we recognize that some of your organization may not be in a position to make financial contributions, therefore, we suggest a voluntary contribution of $100 or more from each convener/organization. Please make check payable to The Gurung (Tamu) Society, Inc or bring cash to Narayan Gurung, President of Tamu Society. We will circulate a list indicating your contribution among the conveners only. Any un-spent funds will be used solely towards an education fund associated with those who died in Nepal.

(7) We request all the key representatives of the conveners and volunteers to arrive at the venue (the New School) by 11 am on Sunday.

(8) Last but not the least, I want to recognize and thank the hard work of Arjun Gurung, Tika Gurung, Narayan Gurung, Tek Gurung, Harkajung Gurung, Tara Niraula, Anil Shahi, and Sanjay Parajuli, who are the core organizing committee members of this memorial service. Thanks also to my research assistant, Tashi Shakya and Grace Hou for their cooperation and help.

Please do feel free to share your suggestion or/and thoughts in furtherr refining the agenda and successfully convening this important memorial service.

Ashok Gurung
November 8

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Taplejung crash victims remembered in US

By KIRAN CHAPAGAIN

NEW YORK, Nov 13 - Nepalese living in New York City on Sunday held a memorial service in honour of the 24 people who perished in the helicopter crash in Ghunsa area of Taplejung district on September 23.

The programme was attended by Nepalese from different walks of life, representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) USA, USAID, consulates of Canada and Finland and the Office of the New York City Mayor.

On the occasion, friends and relatives of the deceased extended their condolences, recited poems, and offered flowers and khada on to the pictures of the 24 people, whishing the departed souls rest in peace. Besides, inter faith prayers were recited, and one minute of silence was observed.

India China Institute, The New School and Gurung (Tamu) Society USA organized the memorial service in association with 21 US-based Nepali organizations.

Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Gopal Rai, noted geographer Dr Harka Gurung, senior bureaucrats, top conservationists and WWF officials, diplomats, journalists and crew members were among those killed in the bad weather-induced crash in September.

On the occasion, Nepalese ambassador to the UN Madhu Raman Acharya, former ambassador Murari Raj Sharma, Navin Rai of the World Bank and other speakers acknowledged the contribution of the deceased in the field of democracy and human rights, geography and conservation.

“There is a need for establishing a foundation to carry on the works they [the deceased] had started,” Acharya said.

Similarly, Lyssia Lamb-McDoland of WWF, USA said that WWF is working hard to give continuity to the works the deceased conservationists have started. She further informed that that WWF is raising fund to support the families of the killed and working to create scholarships in their honour. She also informed that WWF, USA is going to organize a program in Washington DC on November 30 to remember the victims of the Taplejung crash.

Director of India China Institute Ashok Gurung said that some of those killed had been global figures, and deserved to be remembered and honoured right here in the global city that is New York.

Posted on: 2006-11-13 01:37:28 (Server Time)