The second public meeting of the Jersey City 9-11 Memorial Committee held Wednesday yielded a change in the submission deadline and decision not to move the Katan monument in Exchange Place. That statue is dedicated to Polish soldiers killed by the Soviet Secret Police after World War II.
Citing a desire to create "world-class monument," Committee chairman John Guarini said the deadline for monument design proposals has been pushed back to October 1. The committee will still accept applications after Sept. 1.
"This is a process that will require time and thought," Guarini said.
Committee member Guy Catrillo said the Oct. 1 date was tentative and would very likely be moved up. "However, all submissions that come in by Sept. 1 will be displayed to the public," Catrillo stated. "The exhibits will be at the Public Gallery at 111 First Street."
Jersey City artist Henry Sanchez suggested the Memorial Committee not rush selecting any monument design. Sanchez further suggested strenuous guidelines for artists making any design proposal.
"When I made a submission to the Martin Luther King monument in Washington two years ago, there were strict rules on budget, material and location," said Sanchez, adding the same rules should be drawn up for the Jersey City monument.
Sanchez agreed with Catrillo and Guarini that the Sept. 1 submission deadline was too soon.
"These things take time," Sanchez went on. "The Vietnam Memorial wasn’t done the year after the war ended. It was done 10 years later. We need input from artists, historians, engineers, participants and witnesses to the World Trade Center attack."
The 9-11 Memorial Committee was also cautioned by Jersey City residents on the possible removal of the Katan Statue at Exchange Place and the use of 75 tons of steel from the Trade Center.
Stanley Paszul, a veteran of the Polish Underground Army who has lived in Jersey City since the 1950s, passionately upbraided the Committee on any attempt to relocate the Katan Statue.
"Please do not move the statue," said Paszul, presenting a framed set of pictures of his father and himself in Poland during and after the war.
"What happened at the World Trade Center was an act of terrorism," Paszul added. "What happened in Poland was also an act of terrorism."
Paszul went on to say he had spent 12 years in a Soviet prison and felt the Katan statue should remain at Exchange Place.
Committee member Gary Nye said the Katan monument would not be moved. Instead, in the near future there would be a rededication ceremony, Nye stated.
"The monument is an important example of why Americans fought overseas," Nye said.
In regards to the two large floor beams from the World Trade Center donated to Jersey City for possible use in the monument, Gloria Wilson counseled sensitivity on the part of the Committee as to how that steel will be used.
"We have to opportunity to put up something significant in Jersey City," Wilson said. "I know how people feel about that metal. We should be very careful."
Jason Gartini suggested the metal not be used at all for a monument, but instead a garden or something involving greenery be built instead. Mentioning the loss of a roommate in the 9-11 tragedy, Gartini said he would not like to see any metal from the WTC misused.
Stan Eason, speaking for the mayor’s office, said a number of cultural events were being planned for the one-year anniversary of 9-11, involving the city and the Board of Education. Eason could not say what these events were at the Wednesday meeting since they were still in the planning stage.
Nick Montalto, executive director of the International Institute of New Jersey, suggested in remembrance of the foreign nationals lost in the 9-11 attack, flags representing each nation be flown Sept. 10 in Journal Square.
"One person from each of those nations would hold the flag," Montalto suggested. Montalto’s organization helps recent arrivals to the United States education and employment training.
The date of the next 9-11 Memorial Committee was not announced.
For information on design proposals and to give public input on the 9-11 memorial, call (201) 547-5572.