There still are no words ... 20 years later

Kitty Donohoe, accompanied by Westbound Situation, will be performing at noon Saturday, her song remembering Sept. 11, 2001 — "There Are No Words." She will also be singing that evening at the 5 pm service at Greenwood Methodist Church, 1001 Green Road in Ann Arbor.

A Patriot Day Remembrance and an opportunity to walk among the sunflowers, zinnias, cornflower, and calendula will be offered this weekend as part of the Passport To Manchester series. Enjoy the natural beauty of Manchester Blooms' U-Pick flower farm, while hearing about the history of the site and the restoration work on the Greet House using salvage and other recycling efforts.

Music will be provided by Riverfolk artists-in-residence Westbound Situation with special guest Kitty Donohoe featuring her song "There Are No Words," in honor of Patriot Day and the 20-year anniversary of 9/11.

Donohoe, who has performed previously in Manchester at Riverfolk events, clearly recalls her inspiration for writing this song that has since been sung at a variety of events, not only those remembering the September 11 attacks, but also at other memorials and services of various kinds.

"I had just moved to Ann Arbor on September 1 of that year," she says, "and I was trying to get a copy of my new CD in the mail, when it gradually sank in what was really going on that morning.

"What kept running through my head was that 'there are no words,' and that became the refrain in my thoughts that entire day. By that evening I had written the entire song. A couple weeks later, I played it in East Lansing, and everyone told me, 'you need to record that song!' Thus it began its own trip; it was definitely a grassroots effort."

She recorded the song as a single within a couple of weeks and began handing out CDs to "anyone who asked."

It was then featured on a Flashpoint program on WDIV (Channel 4 in Detroit) and Donohoe received a Michigan Emmy in 2002 as composer of that song. Some years later, it was used in an independent film, "A Nation Remembers," and as a result of that, she was invited to sing the song on Sept. 11, 2008, at the dedication of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial with friends and musicians David Mosher and Pooh Stevenson.

"Hosted by Tom Brokaw, the experience was profound in every way, from sharing dinner the night of September 10th with family members of 9/11 victims, to standing in front of 16,000 people who were personally touched by the attacks, accompanied by the Air Force Band and Choir," Donohoe wrote on her website, which also includes a newly-released video of the song.

"I think it’s the hope of every artist to create something that affects people in a strong way, and I’m honored that ‘There Are No Words’ has played a part in the healing process of our country for so many people," Donohoe concluded.

Saturday's events will be held on site at Manchester Blooms U-Pick Flower Farm, 10722 Bethel Church Road, starting with assembly at the farm at 10 am. At 10:10 am, there will be introductory remarks by Aileen Rohwer of Riverfolk Music and Arts, and Ray Berg of the Manchester Area Historical Society, followed by welcome from Amy Pyle of Manchester Blooms, an introduction to the farm and products, and description of the restoration work under way on the Great House. A walking tour of the farm will begin at 10:30 am.

At 11 am, artists Chris Taylor and Ash Taylor will demonstrate bug houses made from discarded instruments; hand cut/painted wooden butterflies; and sunflower tie dyed shirts.

Lunch will be served by Fresh Forage at 11:45 am, accompanied by music provided by Westbound Situation and special guest artist Kitty Donohue.

At 1 pm, Berg will discuss the influence of the Rev. Friedrich Schmid, the immigration of German settlers into Freedom Township centered on Bethel United Church of Christ, and the history of the Manchester Blooms Farm property, followed by free time to explore the farm and blooms at 1:30 pm.

Group rate flowers will also be available for purchase on site: 9-quart bucket: $20, 2-quart watering can: $12.50, and 22-oz cup $5

“There Are No Words” written on 9/11/2001

there are no words there is no song
is there a balm that can heal these wounds
that will last a lifetime long
and when the stars have burned to dust
hand in hand we still will stand because we must

in one single hour in one single day
we were changed forever something taken away
and there is no fire that can melt this heavy stone
that can bring back the voices and the spirits of our own

all the brothers, sisters and lovers
all the friends that are gone
all the chairs that will be empty in the lives that will go on
can we ever forgive though we never will forget
can we believe in the milk of human goodness yet

we were forged in freedom we were born in liberty
we came here to stop the twisted arrows cast by tyranny
and we won’t bow down we are strong of heart
we are a chain together that won’t be pulled apart

Tie-dyed sunflower t-shirts by Chris and Ash Taylor will be available for purchase at the Passport to Manchester event on Saturday.

Bug houses crafted from used instruments will also be on display at Saturday's event, held at Manchester Blooms.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.