New York is almost 7,400 km from Peja. On 11 September 2001 it felt much closer. Two decades later, Rotary Club Peja set out to build a lasting place of remembrance in the city, and to mark the friendship between Kosovo and the United States.
At the heart of the memorial is an authentic steel beam from the World Trade Center, donated by the Fire Department of New York. “Memory and Friendship” is the first memorial of its kind in Southeast Europe, joining the 9/11 memorials in major European capitals and the United States.
The inauguration
The memorial was inaugurated on 11 September 2022, during the presidency of Arbër N. Albani, with a flag ceremony and the national anthems of the United States and Kosovo. Guests included Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, the Defence Attaché of the US Embassy in Prishtina, the Mayor of Peja, the Ambassador of Romania and the club’s founding president, Dr. Neshad R. Albani.
“We learned from this tragedy that life is short and there is no time for hate.”
The club thanks Carl Scheetz and the Fire Department of New York, the Municipality of Peja, Isa Selimaj and ELSA Group, who built the memorial, Arion Kabashi of Immigrand Studio, who designed it, and everyone who contributed.
Remembering every year
The memorial is now the setting for an annual commemoration, held at 14:46, the moment the first plane struck in New York. On the 25th anniversary, 11 September 2026, Rotary Club Peja joined the Peja Peace Forum, the Municipality of Peja and Haxhi Zeka University under the motto “Remember – Never Forget”. At 14:46, the moment the North Tower was struck in New York, club president Ilir N. Albani rang the Rotary bell for a minute of silence. Wreaths were laid, and students of Haxhi Zeka University performed the US national anthem and “Amazing Grace”. The US Embassy in Kosovo was represented by Brooke Young.
