Px WTC Memorial

We all heard about the plane that flew into the World Trade Center then watched glued to our televisions as yet a second plane flew into the other tower. It was too much to believe, yet the story did not stop there or even slow down. Next a plane had reportedly crashed near the Pentagon in Washington D.C.. Was this a coincidence? Then another crash in Pennsylvania. We all came to grips over just what had taken place over the next few days and how to deal with it. To Margaret & Neal Poole doing volunteer work in the Conservatory at the Beaumont Botanical Gardens this was weighing on their minds and Neal began to throw out ideas as how to best memorialize these people lest they be forgotten. First the idea started out as just a simple little plaque placed in the gardens with the words "The Pentagon, World Trade Center & Pennsylvania. September 11th 2001" . After talking about it with others there who also shared his feelings and thoughts the plan began to grow. Grow it did, it spilled over into the community and is slowly becoming a reality that will do proper justice to those who died so tragically on September 11, 2001. The memorial will be built in the shape of a pentagon with red, white and blue flowers, in the center will be marble towers representing the two WTC towers and the New York skyline.

<Click> on the image to Enlarge then <back button> or simply reopen the album using link at left.

Tom is a firefighter stationed on the fireboat across from the WTC. When the disaster happened he was called to aid, for 3 days straight. He uses cutting torches in his art and was called upon to help cut away debris, he collected a few pieces of the wreckage and made the artwork below to be displayed in Beaumont's memorial.

Webmasters Note . . . It has taken many people's effort to to see this through, there are many heroes. I would like to thank Tom Sullivan for taking the time to appear at the ground breaking ceremony and I would like to thank restaurateur Tom Harkin for asking the question "How much do you lack in funding?" then donating the balance needed. Thank you Tom Harkin for the boost in getting the show on the road! MWPoole

Mr. Harkin donated a second flagpole, when told "Mr. Harkin you have donated one already," his reply was "I like flagpoles!" Thank you again "Poppie."

It's beginning to take shape and look like the model! The first mistake was the pouring of the middle slab. The form was laid out in the shape of a five sided figure but NOT a pentagon. The hardened concrete had to be jack hammered out and refinished. Coco the Webdog visited the site for an impromptu inspection and was not happy with the concrete errors and was very suspicious of Bob Whitman. Along the curved entrance walkway will sit a large German Shepard dog representing the rescue dogs that helped to locate victims at the sites.

The president was called at the Whitehouse and invited to attend, it appeared that he would be attending, but later was forced to decline due to pressing matters. Tom Sullivan and another firefighter will make a return trip especially for this event.

Artist in Thailand were commissioned to pour bronze eagles for the front posts. The molds were from a previous pouring and were found and deemed good to use. Once completed were shipped to the United States, the ship is no where to be found and the shipping company has no explanation. The artists in Thailand are producing another set to be air freighted if necessary.

Temporary marble towers will be constructed until the actual ones arrive from India. It is feared the real ones won't make the dedication ceremony.

These boxes are being treated with the same dignity as if they contained the bodies themselves. The dirt from each of the 3 sites will be sealed in separate marble enclosures and marked. These were not easy things to acquire, the crash sites were still classed as crime scenes when we acquired them and the approval had to be given by MANY government officials all the way down to the coroners. It was a very somber day when each came in, and each container posses an aura about it. You can still hear the echoes ......

The site begins to take on a 'finished' look as the deadline nears. The Bronze eagles were found, the ship had blown a boiler and was taken for repairs as all the cargo had to be unloaded. The eagles marked for the WTC Memorial were routed to New York by mistake and had to be air freighted to Beaumont, The much marble has still not arrived and 'substitutes' will be used for the opening ceremony at last resort. The grass and flowers arrives and were set out. Three people will attend that have lost loved ones.

It was a nice clear Texas day 9 months and 11 days after the disasters and we were about to unveil and dedicate our own September 11th Memorial. It was the first in the nation and many attended, Tom Sullivan returned with Neal King, another fire fighter who was involved that day. Present again Congressman Nick Lampson, the newly elected mayor Evelyn Lord, and a host of other dignitaries. Two families that had lost loved ones in the tragedy attended and were part of the services. Music was provided my the Sympathy of Southeast Texas, Songs by Ray Ward & Max Bowen, and bagpipes played by Jeff Courts.

Music played. speeches made, 21 gun salutes, 3 flags raised and lowered to half mast, it was a time to be proud of our memorial and yet a time for sadness for what had happened to cause this to come together.