Posted on 09/12/2003 1:11:20 PM PDT by SolidSupplySide
ANGLETON -- Moved by the horrific attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Texas graphic artist David Paranteau created a logo that's become one of the most widespread symbols used to remember that day.
His logo has appeared on pins, T-shirts, uniform patches and decals all over the world. Thursday, it came home to Texas when transportation officials unveiled "Fight Terrorism" license plates with the logo.
Paranteau refused to take any money for his creation, insisting that all proceeds go to charity. But Thursday he walked away with the first set of Texas special license plates using his logo.
The special plates give regular citizens a chance to join the fight against terrorism.
"We're all part of this -- not just our soldiers in Iraq," said Virginia state Delegate Bob Hull at Thursday's ceremony.
Hull sponsored legislation to issue similar "Fight Terrorism" license plates in his state last year.
Paranteau, 33, of Cedar Hill, designed the logo the day after the terrorist attacks.
It has been used by dozens of military, police and civic organizations, as well as several states. Many servicemen and women have worn it in Afghanistan and Iraq, and several police departments wear it on uniform patches.
The logo is in the shape of a pentagon with the numbers "9-11-01." The "11" is in the shape of the World Trade Center's twin towers, into which hijackers crashed two airliners. It also has a line that says "Remember," and the stars and stripes of an American flag.
The new license plates also bear the words "Fight Terrorism."
"I was amazed at how fast this thing has spread," Paranteau said.
His normal job is to design brochures for luxury apartment complexes. Like many Americans, he was moved to do something to commemorate Sept. 11, and he used his computer to design the logo. He then e-mailed it to friends around the country.
Those friends e-mailed the logo to other people. "It just spread all over the Net," he said.
Somebody -- Paranteau has never found out who -- put a printout of his logo on an impromptu memorial at the Pentagon, also a target of an attack. Arlington County, Va., police officers saw the logo and used the Internet to find Paranteau to ask for permission to use it on T-shirts, caps and other items.
"I told them that they could use it, so long as the proceeds go to charity," Paranteau said. "I never wanted to make any money from it."
Arlington County officers have raised more than $100,000 from sales of items featuring the logo, Hull said.
Plates using Paranteau's logo quickly became the fastest-selling of all Virginia special license plates, he said. More than 14,000 have been sold.
Hull said 16 states, including Texas, offer or are planning to offer the plates.
"We want to make them available in every state," he said.
Paranteau said one friend was so excited about Virginia's license plates that "he drove all the way down to Texas to show them to me."
The effort to make the plates available in Texas is a prime example of citizen participation in government, said state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, who sponsored legislation to adopt the "Fight Terrorism" plates.
Paranteau asked his cousin, Lake Jackson police Detective Randy Crim, if he knew anybody who might be able to help Texas adopt the license plates. Crim called Bonnen, who decided to sponsor the bill.
The unveiling of the new plates came during a luncheon sponsored by the Angleton Chamber of Commerce.
Officials said the plates give Texas drivers a chance to join the fight against terrorism. They said $22 of the $30 extra cost of the plates will be used for special projects to counter terrorism.
Car owners can also pay an additional $40 for vanity plates with letters and numbers they choose.
State officials review each vanity application to make sure it isn't obscene, suggestive or otherwise offensive.
"We even look at them in a mirror to make sure it doesn't say something awful when seen in a rear-view mirror," said Jerry Dike, a director for the Texas Department of Transportation.
Steve Campbell / Chronicle
Logo designer David Paranteau, left, of Cedar Hill, and Virginia delegate Bob Hull unveil a Texas license plate commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy. |
Can't wait to see this on all the soccer moms' giant SUVs. The fact that it's Texas is all the more ironic.
We have the same plate in Virginia, my old one said XSOWD, the one I have now says OUTUN. (We can only get 5 characters to work with)
Or maybe after "fight terrorism" the words "shoot first"
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