Monument dedicated to
victims, heroes of 9/11
By mark rosman
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Under a setting sun on a warm late-summer evening, hundreds of township residents gathered at town hall on Sept. 10 for ceremonies dedicating the community’s 9/11 memorial.
Carved out of 165,000 pounds of granite and built atop entombed pieces of the destroyed twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center, the monument sits on ground which is now considered to be a hallowed location, according to Township Committeeman David Salkin.
"As educated, civilized Americans, it is hard to comprehend the enemy we face today," Salkin said. "This monument is our humble attempt to honor the hundreds of people taken from us. It is our hope that we have created something worthy of our families and our countrymen. It is our hope that what you feel when you look at this monument will be pride."
Salkin recalled how in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, residents rallied to support the efforts of the rescue crews working around the clock at Ground Zero.
"Supplies filled the municipal building from the floor to the ceiling," Salkin said. "The days after 9/11 reminded us we are living in the right place."
In comments to the assembled residents, Mayor Eugene Golub said the monument that stands in the municipal complex at Stillwells Corner and Schanck roads was being dedicated "to those who lost their lives and those who worked to rescue them."
The keynote speaker at the dedication ceremonies was state Senate Republican President John O. Bennett. Recounting the events of the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Bennett said that as the full extent of the death and destruction came more clearly into focus, "It was as if Lady Liberty had dropped to her knees and was weeping at our loss."
Bennett called the plot "a vicious terrorist attack" and said, "Heroes were born that day." Among the heroes, according to the senator, were the passengers on Flight 93 who officials believe fought back against the hijackers and forced the plane to crash short of its intended target; military personnel at the Pentagon who remained at their posts after that building was attacked; World Trade Center employees who helped others in the buildings escape the devastation; and the rescue crews who ran into the burning buildings to save people.
"It was that spirit that allowed us to lift Lady Liberty from her knees and wipe away her tears," Bennett said.
Of the people who attacked the United States, the senator said, "We know in our hearts there will, in fact, be justice for all. We know that the strength of our nation comes from within each of us."
According to information provided by the township, the memorial encompasses all of the events of Sept. 11. The base of the monument is in the shape of a pentagon. Enshrined inside the base are pieces of the World Trade Center. Atop the pentagon, Ground Zero is represented by a granite circle of 50 gold stars, one for each state. On top of Ground Zero stand the twin towers, carved in black granite, each one is 9 feet 11 inches tall.
The five sides of the pentagon are engraved and inlaid in gold. The front face is engraved with the date September 11, 2001. The other four faces are engraved with the flight numbers of the four planes hijacked and lost that day: United Airlines Flight 93, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 11 and American Airlines Flight 77. Mountain laurels, the Pennsylvania state flower, are planted on the monument site to honor the passengers on Flight 93.
The ceremonies included the playing of the national anthem by the Freehold Township High School marching band, the singing of "God Bless America" and "Proud to Be an American" by the Sweet Adelines.