Here’s a Thanksgiving idea. Sponsor a cobblestone in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Slated to begin next year, the Memorial will consist of an eight-acre plaza with two enormous pools marking the original footprints of the World Trade Center. Massive 30-foot waterfalls will be cascading down their sides. The names of the 2,980 victims from both the September 11, 2001 attacks (in NYC, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania) and the February 26, 1993 bombing (in the WTC) will be inscribed along the edge of the pools. Filling the plaza will be nearly 300 oak trees to “create a contemplative space separate from the sights and sounds of the surrounding city,” as the site states.
The Museum, whose primary space will be below ground, will contain interactive exhibits, personal effects, and educational programming to convey the stories of the victims and experiences of the survivors, responders, area residents, and witnesses.
You can sponsor a cobblestone for $100, a special opportunity cobblestone for $500, or a paver for $1,000. Each will include a membership card with your identifying number, plus acknowledgment on their site and in the Memorial kiosk. The special cobblestone and paver also receive acknowledgment during the official opening day ceremony. The $100 cobblestone and $1,000 paver will be placed in the Memorial Plaza while the special cobblestone will be located in the Memorial Glade, a spot set aside for gatherings and ceremonies.
It sounds like the Memorial & Museum is going to be a beautiful testament to the victims of these two tragedies. I look forward to seeing your cobblestone next to mine! And have a Happy Thanksgiving!
I gave!
Good karma for you! ;-)