Circle of Liberty, or Crescent of Embrace? - The Flight 93 Memorial

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | 14-Sep-2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Now, I am no landscape artist or architect...but surely we can come up with...and expect...something for this memorial that is all-American in nature and truly represents the meaning of those barve soul's sacrifice.

[Jeff Head]

FYI...my thoughts.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I'll send my comments on - the crescent is a blasphemous insult - thanks for doing this.

[Mr. Jazzy]

I like the circle theme, but I think it would be better to have the memorial in the shape of a hand with all the fingers clenched into a fist,. except for the middle finger, which would be extended to the fullest. The memorial would then point DIRECTLY at Mecca.


Comments?

[Chani]

I like the way you think!

[Jeff Head]

I would not want any vulgar symbology...regardless of our anger...associated with such a memorial. Their actions already made that statement, when those every day, supposedly "soft" Americans made their choice and defeated a life time of indoctrination and hate that the terrorists represented.

Just my opinion...I certainly understand the anger and defiance.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Nice design. (Too bad it wasn't/won't be supported by the liberal artsy-faky groups.

Few questions:

40 Passengers. Crew included with that 40?

What about plaque/panel or engraved list of those who died in DC when the murderers dove their into the Pentagon?

[HighWheeler]

Jeff I don't know what the 39 florettes represent, maybe the reverse of the 93 in the flight number. How about using 40 florettes, one for each passenger?

[Mr. Jazzy]

Understandable.

[Jeff Head]

I believe the 40 includes the crew. Whatever the number of passengers and crew is, that is what the number of stars should be ...less the terrorists of course.

In the central area, where the statue is, a set of plaques would be located memorializing the entire 911 day in brief, including lists of DC and NYC deaths.

[Eastbound]

Excellent, Jeff. I like your design and your reasoning.

On another point, was your 'typo' on 'givernment' deliberate or accidental. LOL! Very appropriate. A new word for FR's lexicon.

[Jeff Head]

There are meant to be 40 stars...like I said, I am nor landscape artists. The design would call for 40, evenly spaced around an entire circle.

I'll fix the pic.

[steveegg]

You bet your ass that both the shape of and the orientation of the "Crescent of Embrace" was intentional. The alignment (which matches neither the flight path nor any cardinal direction) matches the required "prayer" angle to Mecca as exactly as the shape matches the Islamokazi crescent.

I MUCH prefer your design.

[HighWheeler]

How about a beverage cart smashing throught the cresent and breaking its back?

[Jeff Head]

Freudian typo...hehehe.

[ajolympian2004]

Before everyone has a panic attack over the memorial design you need to listen to this interview today by Dan Caplis and Craig Silverman of KHOW. They talked with the wife of the flight 93 pilot and she was also on the board of the design committee.

http://www.khow.com/mpdownload/9-14_sandydahl.wma
(Windows Media Player)

She says the memorial design should go on as planned. None of the families members of the folks who died in the crash object to design either.

[Jeff Head]

However that red crecent came about, IMHO, it is unacceptable and intolerable.

If I could come up with something like this...imagine what a true, all-American, professional could do? That's what I would like to see.

[Jeff Head]

They are entitled to their feelings...and I respect them greatly.

I also am entitled to mine, as is any other American. I feel that any remote resemblance to the symbols of Islam should be avoided like the plague. This is much more than a "remote" resemblance IMHO.

[Antonello]

Great design, Jeff. From the first moment I saw the 'Crescent of Embrace', and heard the asinine excuse that the topography called for that type of landscape, I wondered why they didn't just close the circle. You have shown that not only would that be possible, but would be true to the spirit of those the memorial is meant to honor.

The only thing I would consider is maybe an eagle and American flag for the central statue instead of a mini Lady Liberty. It would be more in keeping with an icon of the fallen heroes' fighting spirit. Besides, I don't envision this site to be a welcome mat, which is the essence of the Statue of Liberty.

Just my muddling 2 cents. And worth at least half that.

[sourcery]

The memorial to Flight 93 should be based on the above.