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I would respectfully like to submit my ideas for Memorials for the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. First of all, the sites of the World Trade Center, Pentagon,
and even the field near Somerset, Pennsylvania are now absolutely, without a doubt, hallowed ground and should be treated as such.
For the Ground Zero site, there should be no buildings, save, perhaps, for a
small church for visitors to visit to offer their prayers to God, should such a desire move them. There should be two eternal searchlights, centered on the center of the base of each tower- their beams reaching
forever heavenward in search of peace. These should be accompanied by a
plaque of some sort inscribed with something along the lines of, "United We Stand in the Search for Peace, and in the Fight for
Freedom".
Also, in the center of the park, there should be the statue of the three firemen raising the American flag (copying the Marines at Iwo Jima).
This should be accompanied by a plaque stating
something similar to "In proud and loving memory of those heroes who died in the line of duty in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. New York's Bravest: (insert a list of
the perished firefighters)" In addition, there should be a statue of a policeman, guarding each of the four corners of the park.
Pentagon Memorial:
The statues representing a member of each branch of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard) should arranged at the apexes of a pentagon, with the statue of the National Guardsman being in the center of the pentagon. Beside this statue should be a statue of a Crying Eagle sitting on his perch. In the Eagle's talons should be a ribbon worded similar to, "In sad and loving memory of those innocent civilian heroes who died in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001: (insert a list of those who perished)". At the bottom of the ribbon should be "United We Stand". There should be a statue of and angel, with one hand resting reassuringly on the Eagle's head, beside the Eagle Statue.
Each should be accompanied by a plaque worded something like, "In proud and loving memory of those heroes who died in the line of duty in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11,
2001. New York's Finest: (insert 1/4 of the list of perished policemen on each statue)".
Finally, at the entrance to the park there should be a statue of a bald eagle with tears in each eye, clutching a
ribbon in its talons. On the
ribbon should be something like, " Never Forget The Day The Eagle Cried- In sad and loving memory of all the innocent civilian heroes who died in the terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (insert a list of the civilian casualties)".
As for the Pentagon, there should be a statue representing a member of each branch of the Armed Forces. These should
be accompanied by a plaque stating something along the lines of, "In proud memory of those who died guarding America's Freedom in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001: (insert a list of
those who perished)". At the bottom of the plaque should be "United We Stand", and somewhere on the plaque there should be a likeness of the statue of the Crying Eagle Statue to be placed at the
Ground Zero Memorial.
Lastly, at the site of the plane crash near Somerset, Pennsylvania
there should be statues of an airline pilot captain, a businessman, an
"average, ordinary" man, and
an "average, ordinary" woman. They should be accompanied by a plaque worded with something like, " In proud and loving memory of those who gave their lives so that others might live: (insert a list of
those who perished) We wish to thank these modern Freedom Fighters for their selflessness and sacrifice, for they truly embody the American Spirit of 'United We Stand'". A likeness of the Crying Eagle
Statue should also be on the plaque.
I humbly submit these ideas for your review. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Franklin J. Knox
jamieknox@hotmail.com
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