White Firefighters Who Raised Flag at WTC depicted "racially diverse" in New Statue

Newsmax ^ | 1/8/02

[narby]

Racial Changes Made in Ground Zero Firefighter Tribute

It happened more than two weeks ago, but at least one New York City firefighter is still steaming over the politically correct changes made to a sculpted tribute to the firefighter heroes who raised the American flag at Ground Zero just hours after the World Trade Center was leveled on 9/11.

The three flag-raising fireman, as depicted in a widely publicized photograph taken by New Jersey's Bergen Record, were white.

But when a statue commemorating the event was unveiled at the FDNY's Brooklyn headquarters on Dec. 21, the three white firefighters had been replaced by a more racially diverse trio of unidentified Fire Department staffers.

The $180,000 statue is the first memorial to the 343 firefighters and emergency medical personnel killed Sept. 11, reported Newsday at the time.

The racial modifications came at the behest of Fire Department officials, artists with Studio EIS, located on York Street in the Dumbo section, told the paper.

Our firefighter-reader complained:

"What Firefighters McWilliams, Johnson and Eisengrein did inspired the people of the United States in one of its darkest hours. ... This photograph is as sacred as the famous photograph and sculpture of the U.S. Marines raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. ...

"The 343 firefighters [who] were killed at the WTC (54 of whom I knew personally) consisted of all races and creeds.

"But the fact is that the three firefighters who hoisted the Flag on the afternoon of Sept. 11th at the WTC were white and should be depicted as such."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

[pabianice]

This explains why the statue in Cambridge, MA, of the flag raising on Iwo Jima shows it being raised by a pregnant black woman, an Indian, a one-armed Hispanic, a Chinese coolie, and a Japanese monk. I always wondered about the Monk...

[putupon]

White firefighters who raised Flag at WTC will probably have to attend "diversity training" for showing insensitivity to minorities by not taking the time to locate some to assist them or take their places in raising the Flag.

[aShepard]

At least they excluded hillary, chuckie, and that lost soul chelsea who was about to run around the block with a cup of coffee in her hand.

[Revolting cat!]

Hey! Why aren't we albino quadraplegic lesbian whales represented?

[Dakmar]

It's a start...

[Revolting cat!]

James Dean's cig was airbrushed out on the stamp the USPS issued.

As was Robert Johnson's. Still, we should be thankful these two aren't represented as dedicated anti-tobacco crusaders. (Oh, heck. I think I just gave the Ministry of Propaganda an idea!)

[Frumanchu]

I would recommend everyone contact Studio EIS and voice their protest to this (in case the link doesn't work, just do a Yahoo! yellow pages search in New York for Studio EIS).

[Teacher317]

As it oughtta be.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

If they're going to do it, why not include "Tourist Guy" in the statue? At least then it would have humor value. Or how about making them Arafat, Saddam, and bin Laden? Immortalizing them raising the flag of the Great Satan! If we're going to rewrite history, let's do it with some flair, at least!

[bray]

What no proud native Americans? Shouldn't there be an Indian in full headgear and loincloth??? This is an outrage!! And where are the Chinese???

Pray for GW and the Truth.

[New Horizon]

Remember their names and this picture...

[Jay W]

Those are good questions. It is pointless to blame abstract forces such as "political correctness." This was a decision made by actual people. Who are they?

[ko_kyi]

Wow, good point. That sculpture had to cost a pretty penny, so some individual or commitee had to approve the final design.

[JD86]

Great! Thanks for posting their pictures. Can you repost the picture with their names. See #65......Thanks!

[Grig]

Oh, so when is the statue of a white Martin Luther King Jr. going to be ready?

[Phantom Lord]

Wonder if this story is on DU anywhere? I tried to find it and couldnt. Wonder what they are saying about it if it is. Probably fully supportive of it.

[d14truth]

Do you know if these sculptors are going to do the artworks for the Clinton 'Lie-bury'? They would probably do an excellent job of portraying our '1st Black President'. {;~)

Of course, 'Slick' might object to them doing a 'reverse Michael Jackson' on him.

[Frumanchu]

Just sent this to O'Reilly at Fox News. Maybe he will talk about it, hope so.

So did I and so did my mother. I would encourage everyone to take a minute to do the same and get this some real attention nationally.