NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Antenna Audio (www.antennaaudio.com), the world leader in audio and multimedia interpretation, announced today its collaboration with the Tribute WTC Visitor Center (www.tributewtc.org) to produce an audio tour in commemoration of the events of 9/11 and to coincide with the Center's first anniversary. Excerpts of the Antenna Audio produced tour entitled "The Spirit of Tribute - Stories of September 11th" will be debuted at a private media event on September 6, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at the Center. Media interested in attending should email: rsvp@lotus-pr.com.
Since the opening of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center next to Ground Zero, over 275,000 visitors have come to learn, share their grief and find healing in the wake of 9/11. This year survivors, rescue workers, volunteers, area residents and 9/11 families will pay tribute to their loved ones and give back to all those who come to the Center by unveiling a new audio tour entitled, "The Spirit of Tribute - Stories of September 11th."
Produced by Antenna Audio in collaboration with Tribute WTC Visitor Center, this insightful and emotionally riveting, self-guided audio tour is comprised entirely of the voices of people who were directly impacted by 9/11. Their words will offer unparalleled access and insights into the events of the day, the recovery effort that followed and the ongoing struggle to heal and rebuild. The tour is narrated by Tribute WTC Visitor Center President and Co-founder Lee Ielpi. Lee is a former NY fire fighter whose son, also a fire fighter, perished at the World Trade Center site.
"The Tribute WTC Visitor Center is a place for reflection and remembrance. The addition of the audio tour will expand upon our mission to share our stories -- person to person," said Lee Ielpi. "The result is a powerful educational experience that promotes compassion and meaningful dialogue so that we may never forget. I would like to personally thank the volunteers who lend their voices so that thousands of people will hear the authentic experiences of 9/11 from survivors, FDNY firefighters, family members who lost loved ones, neighborhood residents and volunteers from across the country."
This exclusive media briefing will prove to be one of the most impactful events that commemorate 9/11 this year. Several individuals who participated in the making of the audio tour will be available for interviews and will partake in the presentation, including Jennifer Adams, CEO and co-founder of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, Chris Tellis, founder of Antenna Audio, and Lee Ielpi, along with survivors, rescue workers, volunteers, area residents and 9/11 families.
"Some of the most important artifacts we have in this world are the personal memories of profound events. From these stories we sort out our own expectations of how we might behave under similar circumstances," said Chris Tellis, founder of Antenna Audio. "We have been honored to hear and assemble these memories, so they may be experienced by all visitors to Ground Zero."
The full-length Antenna Audio tour opens to the public on September 28, 2007 in English and will be available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish beginning October 23, 2007. Visitors will experience the "Spirit of Tribute" on Antenna Audio's XP-classic(tm) audio player at the Center for $10.
Visit www.antennaaudio.com/tribute to download the electronic press kit and listen to an excerpt from the tour.
About Antenna Audio
Antenna Audio (www.antennaaudio.com) is the world leader in audio and multimedia tours and is an innovator in mobile and cultural interpretation, expanding into podcasting, cell-phone tours and downloadable walking tours. Each year, more than 20 million visitors, in 12 languages and across 20 countries, experience Antenna Audio's award-winning productions at 450 of the world's most famous, fascinating and frequented destinations. Acquired in April 2006 by the number-one nonfiction media company, Discovery Communications (www.discovery.com), Antenna Audio now offers its clients unprecedented access to Discovery's expansive library of original content and 100-plus worldwide networks, which reach more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries through TV and digital media.
About The Tribute WTC Visitor Center
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center (www.tributewtc.org) was created by the September 11th Families' Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan. By engaging visitors in the authentic experiences of those most affected by the events of 9/11, the exhibits convey the courage, loss, heroism and grief of those who responded to the tragedy. These personal experiences put a human face on the overwhelming events that shocked the city, the nation and the world. The Center increases understanding of the humanity and community that was both lost and found. These goals are met by offering exhibits, personalized walking tours and audio tours of the World Trade Center site. Throughout the Center, interactive exhibits, personal greeters and an environment for reflection involve visitors in appreciating the scope and impact of the disaster as well as the enormous outpouring of compassion in response to that loss.