Posted on 08/16/2005 8:29:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - A union representing 22,000 active and retired firefighters announced Tuesday it has withdrawn its support for the foundation overseeing development of a memorial and other structures at the World Trade Center site.
Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, cited objections to the planned International Freedom Center and a Drawing Center, which detractors say could include anti-American exhibits and draw attention from a planned memorial museum.
Cassidy said in a statement that his "membership and our 9/11 families believe that the memorial design will take away from the memory and sacrifice of the firefighters who bravely gave their lives during the most horrific terrorist attacks our country has had to face."
The Freedom Center and the Drawing Center are parts of cultural space long planned at ground zero. But in recent months family members have waged a campaign to remove the two institutions from the site.
The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation is charged with overseeing development of a memorial at the World Trade site as well as cultural space set aside for the two museums, two theater companies and a performing arts complex.
The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. oversees rebuilding of the entire 16-acre site, including a planned 1,776-foot tall Freedom Tower office building.
The memorial, called "Reflecting Absence," will include a field of trees and two large voids containing recessed pools. The pools and the ramps that surround them encompass the footprints of the twin towers. A cascade of water will feed the pools continuously.
Last week, John Whitehead — chairman of the LMDC's board of directors and a foundation board member — gave the International Freedom Center until Sept. 23 to work with family members and produce more specific plans and warned if the plans do not satisfy the rebuilding agency, "we will find another use or tenant consistent with our objectives for that space."
The Drawing Center is looking for a new home following the controversy.
Cassidy was adamant in calling the plans to house the Freedom and Drawing centers "unacceptable."
"This was the largest civilian rescue operation of its kind, and its victims must be at the forefront of whatever memorial is cast and not forced to play third fiddle," he said.
A spokeswoman said the foundation was "deeply saddened" by the union's decision. "We hope that the LMDC will work with the cultural institutions and the family members to resolve the concerns at the site," Lynn Rasic said.
The chairman and the vice chair of the International Freedom Center, Tom Bernstein and Paula Berry, said Tuesday they looked forward to meeting with the union officials to share their plans.
They said they were creating a family advisory council to ensure that everything at the International Freedom Center "is done with the greatest sensitivity and respect for the sacrifice so many heroes, both in and out of uniform, made that day."
Bravo
I don't blame them. The liberals want to turn it into a hate America museum. Pathetic!
Finally. A union I can agree with.
They'll say anything now, but if these guys get their way, you'll visit NYC & the "International Freedom Center" in 2010 and see a history of freedom in the USA that will range from slavery to Wounded Knee to Kent State and internationally from Ho Chi Minh's fight for freedom the Iraqi resistance.
Now if the trade unions and the Police Union would do likewise the LIBs would be in serious trouble.
Wow. Never thought I'd agree with a union.
Now thats sending a HUGE message by them not giving thier endorsement. Wow! Good for them.
I really don't mind having an exhibit as described on the WTC premises, but the central memorial should remain to the victims of 9/11, and I think we should include a separate memorial to the police and firefighters who perished trying to save people. And a separate memorial should be dedicated to the Armed Forces service members who have fought in the subsequent WoT, with a list of their fallen heroes.
9/11 and the WTC should be a memorial to the victims first and foremost. Our response to the 9/11 attacks should be memorialized, with the inclusion of our victories over terror presented as a tribute and a warning to those who think that America is weak.
The plans need to be declared 10-99 (DOA in local FD's system) and redone by someone who actually loves this country and respects the people who have sacrificed to make this nation what it is.
Heh! That's all NYC needs another anti-American multicutural paen to moral relativism.
LOL!! Who's the "spokeswoman", Mrs. Daschle?
My dad was a fire fighter when he was alive. They and all the other first responders deserve all the honor they are receiving.. more even.
But I think about the guy sitting at his desk bitching that his coffee wasn't hot. Moments later desperately calling his wife to say goodbye. To let her know he didn't mean the awful things he said that morning when they had a spat. To say the one true thing he knew of the world: "I love you".
I think of the jumpers and cry. When the towers collapsed I kept seeing those papers buffeted by the wind while they fell. Papers some guy or woman put their best into, beating deadlines, sacrificing free time. Enough.
About #%@# time. Bravo to the fire fighters union. Just Say HELL NO to the blame American first crowd.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service.
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