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Sept. 11 Families, Unions: Change Memorial
AP via Yahoo News ^ | Mon Feb 27, 2006 | AMY WESTFELDT

Posted on 03/02/2006 8:37:08 PM PST by Species8472

NEW YORK - Families of people killed in the World Trade Center attack demanded Monday that officials redesign the memorial, saying the current plan is unsafe and disrespects victims by placing their names below street level.

Police and fire union leaders joined victims' families at ground zero to seek a new design, although construction on the "Reflecting Absence" memorial is set to begin in March.

"We're asking that the memorial see the light of day," Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, told about 150 people.

The design, chosen two years ago by a panel of artists, civic and cultural leaders, and one Sept. 11 family member, marks the outlines of the twin towers with reflecting pools surrounded by the names of the nearly 3,000 people who were killed.

A tree-lined memorial plaza is planned for above ground, but the museum to commemorate the 2001 terrorist attacks and part of the memorial where the names are listed will be as much as 70 feet below street level.

"It is all wrong in its symbolism," said Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother was killed at the trade center. "I look up to the sky to remember him. I will never go down."

Tallon also said the underground design was a "death trap" for tourists in case of a fire or a terrorist attack. Families have said there should be four main ramps in and out of the memorial instead of two.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which is overseeing the design and appointed the 13-member panel that chose it, said the memorial and museum would have 15 exits, including emergency stairwells.

The company's spokesman, John Gallagher, said police, fire and security teams would make certain the memorial was built to safely accommodate the millions of visitors who are expected. "The memorial will be a magnificent tribute to those we lost," he added.

Gallagher also said the decision to list the names of the dead randomly around the two reflecting pools "remains our plan."

Emergency workers and family members have asked that the dead be listed according to the battalion or precinct they worked for or the tower they worked in.

"They must be recognized together," said Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, who wants firefighters listed by their units, ranks and badge numbers.

Fundraising experts have said controversy over the memorial could hurt the effort to raise the $500 million needed to build and operate it. A private foundation has raised more than $100 million so far. The memorial is scheduled to open in 2009.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 911; 911families; memorial; newdesignpleas; newdesignplease; september11; wtcmemorial
FYI
1 posted on 03/02/2006 8:37:10 PM PST by Species8472
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To: Species8472
Catch me up,ok? Is this land owned by the Transit Authority, or by a private entity? This is prime real estate and I can understand why the developers want to put the museum below ground level....street level and above will command much higher rents. I don't think the memorial should be underground, but I can understand why. What I don't get is who gets to have input on this, who makes the calls - the owners or the survivors?
2 posted on 03/02/2006 8:43:11 PM PST by blu (People, for God's sake, think for yourselves!)
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To: blu

I know it's been said before, but they ought to build it the height of the number of people who died on 9/11.


3 posted on 03/02/2006 9:10:38 PM PST by Marius3188
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To: Species8472; All

What???? Only one member from 1 victims family making decisions on that sparse committee, and is the sole representation there of all those murdered on 911.01? Underground memorial????Burry them twice???? Not enough respect;honor thought nor care has been put into this current plan.Reflect the magnitude of the loss,I say.This plan won't even come close to doing that...Rental costs schmental costs. It's not about money...It's about the in memory of...


4 posted on 03/02/2006 9:41:36 PM PST by Majie Purple
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To: Species8472

Let me get this straight. A memorial to 55,000 plus who died in Viet Nam, located below ground level is perfectly acceptable, but one for the 9-11 victims is not?

I've got a news flash. Whatever they come up with will NEVER be acceptable to those folks, so quit trying. Rebuild the two towers where they were, taller than they were, and put up a plaque.


5 posted on 03/02/2006 9:49:14 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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