Memorial To 9/11 Victims

An excerpt was originally published in February 2002 in the Philadelphia Inquirer, as part of the "Community Voices" section. As part of a retrospective, the newspaper republished the excerpt in December 2002.

I envision a memorial that begins below ground level and reaches high into the sky ... symbolizing the depths of our sorrow and the pinnacle of our hopes and prayers. The monument is composed of an array of colored granite--white, black, tan, champagne, and rose--reflecting the range of colors and the diversity of the people who were lost. The names of all the victims of the 9/11 attacks are carved in the granite. Flags representing all the countries who lost citizens that day are presented behind glass, and the U.S. flag is prominently displayed.

Adjacent to the monument is a chapel and a visitor's center, where visitors can meditate, look at photos and biographies of the victims, view movies, pictures, and other testaments to the day, and post their own tributes. A special section honors particular heroes, such as the passengers on the different airplanes who attempted to change the course of events, the firemen, policemen, and emergency response volunteers who were injured or lost their lives, all the people who responded from near and far, and those who continue to work so diligently on recovery efforts.

Another section recognizes all the nations, businesses, and community organizations affected by the loss--including the companies for whom the victims worked and the volunteer organizations to which so many victims contributed their time and talents. Remembering the countries, businesses, charities, and communities around the world whose lives were touched by the victims reminds us of the enormity of what we've lost, and celebrates the humanity that we share.

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