Efforts have begun in Jersey City to commemorate the Sept. 11 attack on the World trade Center. The first public meeting of the Sept. 11 Memorial Committee was held Wednesday night to gather public input on a monument to the tragedy likely to be located at Exchange Place.
Speaking briefly at the start of the meeting, Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham stated that any monument built by the city would have to memorialize those lost in the terrorist attacks, be a symbol of those who helped in the recovery, and call for a world where such an act could not happen again.
Cunningham said that 70 tons of steel from the wreckage of the Twin Towers had been donated for use in the creation of a 9/11 monument.
Greg Brickey, arts liaison for Jersey City and a member of the monument selection committee, said Wednesday that a number of concepts from around the country had been submitted to the city for consideration. All design submissions must be postmarked by September 1, 2002, Brickey added.
The designs and models submitted will be shown to the public at a ceremony, probably on Sept. 11. Ultimately, one design will be selected by a special committee.
At the present time, the monument design selection committee consists of Brickey, city planner Robert Carter, and Rocio Aranda-Alvarado, curator of the Jersey City Museum. "John Moran from the New Jersey Arts Council has been asked to join, but so far we [haven’t had] an answer from him," said Brickey. Brickey expects there to be six members on the selection committee.
Judging by the number of submissions from outside New Jersey, Brickey said the accepted design would likely come from outside the state, perhaps internationally.
After the Sept. 1 deadline, Brickey said, a group of six to 10 entries will be chosen for public exhibition. The artists will then be required to submit a small scale model of their monument design.
"There will be a display of the models of monument concepts at the old Jersey City museum space," said Brickey. The old museum is located at 472 Jersey Ave.
"We’re in no rush to choose a design; we want the best we can get," Brickey explained. "We have the potential for a world-class monument here."
Brickey was not certain Exchange Place would be the location of the Jersey City 9/11 monument, noting that Paulus Park might be an alternative location. If Exchange Place were chosen as the location, the area would be open to pedestrians only. Also, the Katin Monument to Polish soldiers killed by Russia in World War II would have to be moved a few hundred feet, Brickey said.
Turnout was light for the first meeting, but some people raised questions about the influx of tourism after the monument is built. Among the concerns voiced was possible objections the families of people lost in the WTC attack, especially regarding the use of debris from the Trade Center itself.
"If we were to exhibit these items a year from now, they might be regarded as a freak show," Brickey said. "But on the anniversary, they could be viewed as historic artifacts."
Brickey said a temporary 9/11 monument would be built at the foot of the Katin Monument facing toward Lower Manhattan by the time of the one year anniversary.
Events
Guy Catrillo, speaking for the committee organizing 9/11 memorial events, said that a candle light procession for Sept. 10 is being organized. It will run from St. Peter’s College to Exchange Place starting at 8:43 p.m. He encouraged communities from all over the city to participate.
"With the cooperation of the schools, we hope to have time capsules which will have messages from grade school children to the future," Catrillo said, adding the students will also reflect on the Sept. 11 tragedy.
"We would also like to reach out to the public for photos of 9-11," Catrillo stated.
Brickey also announced the Jersey City Museum is in the process of creating an 9/11 memorial exhibit, involving concrete and steel from the World Trade Center. He added a base was required for the exhibit, which would cost $500. Brickey encouraged the public to make donations to the library for the base.
Brickey expressed disappointment at what he said was a lack of input from Jersey City community leaders.
"I noticed all the members of the council, but only Mary Donnelly showed up," said Brickey. Brickey added his concern that the process of building the monument might become politicized.
"We have managed to keep the design process from becoming politicized ," Brickey stated. "This project does have a life of its own."
For information on the monument and events for the 9/11 anniversary, call (201) 547-5572.