Musings of a Restless Mind

When they decided to build a World Trade Center Memorial, they held an open competition, so Sharon, the artist, poet, and draftswoman was inspired to make an entry. In honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I’ve tried here to compile her entry as she would have presented it.

LIBERTY, LIKE A DISTANT STAR

SHINES BRIGHTEST IN THE DARK

A star, a beacon of light, a symbol of hope, and a representation of a soul. And sometimes it is only in the darkness that one remembers how important the candle is. That one comes to understand the value of words beyond price like Liberty, Freedom, Courage, Compassion, and Endurance. That being a hero or a healer is not an accident, but a choice of how one has chosen to live. It is knowing the true worth of things and cherishing what will not pass away over what will. This is the heart of my concept.

By keeping it simple, without long lists of facts, I have hoped to accomplish two things. First, to make sure no one is forgotten because everyone will be able to see themselves or their loved ones where they have a need to. People know if they or a loved one have done something heroic or healing. Everyone’s pain or sacrifice is given a voice. Second, facts engage the rational side of the brain over the emotive side. By keeping the poetry/prose simple the visitor will truly be able to engage with the memorial at the deepest of levels. Facts are best left to a museum, or for those who wish, the information kiosks that would be available. This is the mind of my concept.

And “blessing the scars” is a concept that I have lived with for many years. When the wound is so deep, so debilitating that one cannot move past it, one finds one must face it, embrace it, and finally, bless it. For in every darkness, there is a light waiting to be found. Everything that one might remember about that day: the chaos, the fires, the smoke, the screams, the broken buildings, and the shattered lives; I have tried to find a way to bless it in the memorial. This is the soul of my concept.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS:

• 1 Recognizes the victims in some way.
• 2 Area for quiet visitation and/or contemplation.
• 3 Area for families and loved ones of victims.
• 4 Area for the unidentified remains.
• 5 Footprints of the original WTC Towers.

COLOR SCHEME: Sunset/sunrise and night. Midnight blue, sky blue, lavender, rose pink, peach, burgundy. Monuments are black rectangles on site plan and are midnight blue slate with silver metallic block letters.

VERTICAL MONUMENTS: NORTH TOWER, SOUTH TOWER, SHANKSVILLE, PENTAGON

HORIZONTAL MONUMENTS: REMEMBER, ENDURANCE, SURVIVORS, COURAGE and COMPASSION(in separate reflection pools). M FREEDOM WALK is a set of five monuments placed between the SHANKSVILLE and the PENTAGON monuments. Each wall has one verse from the “FREEDOM WALK” poem. SURVIVORS(two poems).

A (1,2) “LIBERTY WALL” mosaic with 3,022 white stars on a midnight blue background. Five repeating sections of about 605 stars each.

B (2) “SIMPLE DAY WALL” is concrete cast to represent a collection of items that were used by the victims such as: chef’s hat, calculator, toys, briefcase, barber’s scissors, etc. along with a mosaic in white and burgundy that moves from a regular pattern to an irregular one representing the chaos of 911. The concrete cast would be the regular wavy line along the bottom, set to be flush with the rest of the wall. Along the top of the wavy line, there would be a short poem that repeats in white letters. “IT WAS A SIMPLE DAY, SIMPLY BEGUN, WITH SIMPLE THINGS. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.” Five sections.

C (2) “VERTICAL ZEN GARDEN WALL” glazed wall either molded or etched with traditional(Brass stencils LG 612 and LJ 813 used) and modified(original swirl) Zen garden designs. Five sections with evolution of patterns.

D (2,3) “COURAGE AND COMPASSION” two-storied building housing two reflection pools on the upper level. The lower level is reserved for security, main- tenance, first aid, restrooms, and space for meeting rooms and/or the needs of the community that will “evolve over time”. Proposed ramp joins upper level with slurry wall ramp. Three observation decks on upper level. Glass roof.

E (3,4) “REMAINS” is envisioned as a raised (5 feet) and semi-enclosed area with a glass roof with a wheelchair accessible ramp on the side of the building under the overhang and near the September 11 Place Access. The area is 6864 square feet.

F (1,2,3) “SOUND AND SMOKE” has the STAR ORATORY with 3,022 temple bells(brass bells with wooden clappers). STAR ALTARS (not drawn) will be for burning incense and are concrete, star-shaped, around 4.5 feet high, indented to hold sand, and burgundy-colored.

G (1,2,3) “STAR BEDS” contain 40 STAR POSTS. The posts are lights that honor each light of life extinguished. Base height of 18 inches, with one extra inch for each five years of life to point out the range in ages of the victims. Lavender, except for six burgundy ones for the victims of the first attack. Lights are white for civilians, rose for firemen, sky blue for police/port authority and enlisted (PENTAGON only). There are 76 STAR BEDS (extra posts for flexibility). NORTH TOWER or SOUTH TOWER STAR FIELDS (New York victims). FREEDOM WALK STAR FIELD (Shanksville and Pentagon victims).

H (2,5) “STAR AMBIT” path outlining original footprints of the two towers using pavers with the word “remember” etched in the languages representing the 92 countries that lost people.

I “REMEMBRANCE FIELD” is space allocated primarily for relics and/or other proposed memorial statues. J “ENDURANCE PLACE” and K “SURVIVOR’S PARK” are places for landscaping and benches. L “STARS AND STRIPES TRIANGLE” is for an American flag to be flown. These burgundy irregular shaped areas can have benches, landscaping, and information kiosks in addition to anything already noted. M “FREEDOM WALK” as noted earlier.

“INFORMATION KIOSKS” (not drawn) are places where visitors may access information on locating an individual star post; poetry and quotes on death, courage, compassion, etc. for meditation; and any other information deemed useful. Part of the site that could “evolve over time” as needs changed. Accessed worldwide, with contributions from all over, promoting an end to “hatred, ignorance, and intolerance” as people could see that we have more in common with each other than differences.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Pathways are 20 feet wide, except in the STAR BEDS, where the distance is 5 feet and wheelchair accessible. Scale is 1” = 40’ except where otherwise noted. All design concepts and poetry original.

COURAGE AND COMPASSION

FOR

THE HEALERS AND THE HEROES

THOSE STILL LIVING

AND

THOSE LONG DEAD

THOSE WITH NAMES

AND

THOSE UNSUNG

WE GIVE THANKS

THEIR COMPASSION

THEIR COURAGE

BURN LIKE BRIGHT CANDLES

IN THE DARK PLACES

OF OUR HEARTS

CALLING US TO BE OUR BETTER SELVES

WE HAVE BEEN ETERNALLY BLESSED

BY THEIR SACRIFICE

AND THIS GROUND FOREVER SANCTIFIED

BY THEIR CHOICES

REMAINS

TREAD SOFTLY HERE.

FOR WITHIN LIE THE REMAINS OF THOSE THAT COULD NOT BE NAMED. COULD NOT BE SENT HOME TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SO THIS IS THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE.

SPEAK SOFTLY HERE.

FOR THEY ARE LISTENING. THEY, WHO IN THEIR LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE, HEARD ONLY THE ROAR OF FIRE AND THE SCREAMS OF FEAR. THEY NEED NO MORE SOUNDS OF ANGER OR VIOLENCE.

LOOK SOFTLY HERE.

FOR THEIR LAST DAY WAS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY DAYS OF THEIR LIFE. THERE WERE ALSO DAYS OF DREAMS. DAYS OF JOY. LET NOT YOUR SORROW FOR THEIR LOSS OVERSHADOW A CELEBRATION OF THEIR LIFE.

LISTEN SOFTLY HERE.

FOR THEY WILL TELL YOU TO TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. TO LIVE EACH MOMENT WELL. FOR LIFE IS A PRESENT. AND GIVEN ONLY A MOMENT AT A TIME.

THEN LEAVE SOFTLY.

WITH TEARS IN YOUR EYES, BUT HOPE IN YOUR HEART. AND WITH A VOW ON YOUR LIPS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE WELL. AND IF NOT FOR YOURSELF, THEN IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED AND ARE BURIED HERE.

REMEMBER

ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

THOUSANDS PERISHED

MEN AND WOMEN

CHILDREN

HUSBANDS AND FATHERS

WIVES AND MOTHERS

SONS AND DAUGHTERS

THEY CAME FROM 92 COUNTRIES

ALL CLASSES, ALL RACES

THEY LEFT THEIR HOMES IN THE MORNING

AND NEVER CAME BACK

WE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND

MUST GRIEVE THEIR LOSS

BUT THEN LIKE A PHOENIX REBORN

OUR SPIRITS MUST RISE UP

FROM THEIR ASHES

WE MUST TURN OUR FACES TO THE STARS

AND FOR THE WORLD

DREAM A BETTER DREAM

THAN ONE OF HATRED, IGNORANCE, AND INTOLERANCE

WE MUST REMEMBER

WE MUST NEVER FORGET

FREEDOM WALK

WITHOUT FREEDOM

THERE IS NO HOPE

WITHOUT HOPE

THERE IS NO LIFE

WITHOUT VIGILANCE

THERE IS NO FREEDOM

WITHOUT COURAGE

THERE IS NO VIGILANCE

LET’S ROLL

ENDURANCE

WHAT ENDURES?

FLESH AND BLOOD DO NOT

SHORT OR LONG

TIME IN THE END

TAKES THEM BOTH

MONUMENTS DO NOT

PYRAMIDS WEAR

DROUGHT AND WINDS

TEAR UP THE LAND

GOLD CHANGES HANDS

FASTER THAN COINED

WEALTH AND FAME

HAVE NO SURE FOOTING

SO WHAT ENDURES?

ONLY THAT WHICH

CANNOT BE HELD

CANNOT BE SEEN

THE BREATH OF LIFE

THAT RISES ANEW

WITH EACH GENERATION

THAT SPEAKS OUR STORY

OF WHAT WE BELIEVE WE ARE

AND IN OUR BELIEVING

WE GROW TO MAKE IT SO

AND IN OUR GROWING

IN OUR REACH FOR THE STARS

THE DREAM ENDURES

THE ONE THAT IS WORTH

ALL OF OUR COURAGE

ALL OF THE PAIN

TO STAND AGAINST THOSE

WHO WOULD MAKE US FEAR

“WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT,

THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL,

THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR

WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS,

THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY,

AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”

(DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, JULY 4, 1776)

SURVIVORS #1

REMEMBER US

FOR WE ARE THE ONES LEFT BEHIND

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

WHO WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING

BUT COULD DO NOTHING

TO SAVE THOSE THAT WE LOVED

WE HAD FORGOTTEN HOW FRAGILE LIFE IS

WE THOUGHT OUR PLANS WERE ENOUGH

TO PROTECT US

WE HAVE BEEN SHAKEN TO THE BEDROCK OF OUR SOULS

WE POINT TO THE STARS

FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN

BUT OUR HAND TREMBLES

MAY WE FIND IN THE ROAR OF THE WATERS

IF NOT SAFETY,

THEN AT LEAST PEACE AND COMFORT

AND A WAY TO GO ON.

SURVIVORS #2

REMEMBER US

FOR WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN ONES

THE ONES WHO DID NOT DIE

WHO STILL STAND

BUT NOT THE SAME

MARKED BY THE SMELL OF SMOKE

THE SOUND OF FIRE AND DEATH

WE STRUGGLE WITH BEING ALIVE

WHEN SO MANY WE KNEW

ARE NOT

THERE IS NO WAY TO EXPLAIN IT

GRACE OR CURSE

WE DID NOT DESERVE TO LIVE

THEY DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE

MAY WE FIND IN THE ROAR OF LIFE

IF NOT UNDERSTANDING,

THEN AT LEAST PEACE AND COMFORT

AND A WAY TO GO ON.