Rancho 9/11 Memorial Wins Over N.Y. Officials
By Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
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(Photo via: http://www.freedomsflame.us/pages/memorial.html
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A trip to New York City to garner support for a Sept. 11 memorial to be built in Rancho Cucamonga was successful, say organizers of the Freedom's Flame Foundation.
Dennis Stout, founder of the local organization, said the goal of his May visit to the East Coast was to find out how New York leaders feel about the memorial.
"We were overwhelmed by the support we got," said Stout. "This memorial addresses the issues that the memorials in New York don't address, and that is the conduct of the people that day as opposed to the tragedy itself."
The 35-foot-high memorial, when completed, will have its home in Rancho Cucamonga's Central Park. It will feature statues of public safety officials and civilians on a spiral staircase that wraps around a flame. Steel beams taken out of the World Trade Center after its collapse will be used for the memorial.
A sign marking Freedom's Flame Plaza has been erected at the Central Park site, located northwest of the Community Center in an unfinished part of the park.
Funding is perhaps the foundation's biggest challenge. The project, which consists of one memorial in Rancho Cucamonga and one as a gift to New York City, is expected to cost $15 million. So far, the foundation has collected $250,000.
Stout says he has set no deadline to raise the funds but is optimistic the money will come.
"Things that last a long time take a while for it to happen. It won't take as long as the World War II memorial, but it will happen," said Don Driftmeir, the chief financial officer of the foundation. "It's an expensive proposition and a poignant memorial."
Driftmeir said there will be those who doubt the project and question why the events of Sept. 11 have to be memorialized.
"As we approach (July 4), it's important to celebrate that we're free to have all those thoughts and opinions," said Driftmeir.
The bulk of the cost will come from the development of 60 life-sized statues on the two memorials. The foundation is seeking businesses to give $250,000 per statue to be on a donor's list.
The memorial is also being planned in a section of the park not yet developed. The city is planning to build a gym and aquatic center as funding becomes available.
Councilman Sam Spagnolo, a foundation volunteer who went on the New York trip, said he does not believe the memorial will lose momentum in the time it takes to build financial support.
"The patriotism that took place after 9/11 is very strong. Those people in New York live in it every day. Maybe you get to the West Coast and isn't so prevalent in our minds," said Spagnolo. "But we need to send a message to the terrorists that America is very, very strong."
The foundation is organizing a commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the attacks this Sept. 11 to be held at the new Victoria Garden Cultural Center.
Wendy Leung can be reached by e-mail at wendy.leungor by phone at (909) 483-9376.
On the Net: www.freedomsflame.us
-
(Photo via: http://www.freedomsflame.us/pages/memorial.html
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A trip to New York City to garner support for a Sept. 11 memorial to be built in Rancho Cucamonga was successful, say organizers of the Freedom's Flame Foundation.
Dennis Stout, founder of the local organization, said the goal of his May visit to the East Coast was to find out how New York leaders feel about the memorial.
"We were overwhelmed by the support we got," said Stout. "This memorial addresses the issues that the memorials in New York don't address, and that is the conduct of the people that day as opposed to the tragedy itself."
The 35-foot-high memorial, when completed, will have its home in Rancho Cucamonga's Central Park. It will feature statues of public safety officials and civilians on a spiral staircase that wraps around a flame. Steel beams taken out of the World Trade Center after its collapse will be used for the memorial.
A sign marking Freedom's Flame Plaza has been erected at the Central Park site, located northwest of the Community Center in an unfinished part of the park.
Funding is perhaps the foundation's biggest challenge. The project, which consists of one memorial in Rancho Cucamonga and one as a gift to New York City, is expected to cost $15 million. So far, the foundation has collected $250,000.
Stout says he has set no deadline to raise the funds but is optimistic the money will come.
"Things that last a long time take a while for it to happen. It won't take as long as the World War II memorial, but it will happen," said Don Driftmeir, the chief financial officer of the foundation. "It's an expensive proposition and a poignant memorial."
Driftmeir said there will be those who doubt the project and question why the events of Sept. 11 have to be memorialized.
"As we approach (July 4), it's important to celebrate that we're free to have all those thoughts and opinions," said Driftmeir.
The bulk of the cost will come from the development of 60 life-sized statues on the two memorials. The foundation is seeking businesses to give $250,000 per statue to be on a donor's list.
The memorial is also being planned in a section of the park not yet developed. The city is planning to build a gym and aquatic center as funding becomes available.
Councilman Sam Spagnolo, a foundation volunteer who went on the New York trip, said he does not believe the memorial will lose momentum in the time it takes to build financial support.
"The patriotism that took place after 9/11 is very strong. Those people in New York live in it every day. Maybe you get to the West Coast and isn't so prevalent in our minds," said Spagnolo. "But we need to send a message to the terrorists that America is very, very strong."
The foundation is organizing a commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the attacks this Sept. 11 to be held at the new Victoria Garden Cultural Center.
Wendy Leung can be reached by e-mail at wendy.leungor by phone at (909) 483-9376.
On the Net: www.freedomsflame.us
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