DOWN THE SHORE: AVALON CREATES DONATION PROGRAM FOR 9/11 MEMORIAL PLAZA
Friday, July 27, 2012
Plaza to be finished by September 11th, 2012; features I-beam from World Trade Center
(Avalon, NJ)—The Borough of Avalon has created a donation program that will support the construction of the Borough’s new September 11th Memorial Plaza that is currently being constructed at Veterans Plaza at 21st Street and Dune Drive. The Memorial Plaza will feature a 9’11” tall steel beam that was salvaged from the World Trade Center in New York City.
“We have experienced a very high level of interest from individuals and businesses who want to support this very honorable and reflective memorial plaza in Avalon”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “We are privileged to have acquired this artifact from the World Trade Center site and honored to be able to present a memorial plaza that will pay tribute the victims and first responders in behalf of Avalon and our entire region”.
The new donation program is being coordinated by the Friends of the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization. All donations provided to this organization in behalf of the September 11th Memorial Plaza will be used to defray construction and material costs associated with the project. Those who offer a tax-deductible sponsorship will receive a listing on the permanent plaza entry signage at the plaza.
The new September 11th Memorial Plaza was designed by Scott Taylor from Taylor Design Group in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It will be located one block north of Veterans Plaza on Dune Drive in Avalon. The focal point of the plaza will be a 1,800 pound steel I-beam artifact recovered from the site of Ground Zero at the World Trade Center in New York City. Avalon secured the artifact from the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey during September, 2011.
The proposed plaza includes a scored concrete walkway that leads visitors to a circular walking area that includes a small wall that will include subtle bronze lettering that reads “..all that is good will endure”. Bronze shadow inlays will depict the timeline of the major events on September 11th, 2001. Those events will be set in the pavement to correspond with the shadow pattern cast by the I-beam on September 11th of each year.
The artifact from the World Trade Center will stand 9’-11” tall, and will respectfully lean at an angle of nine degrees and eleven minutes towards Manhattan. The circular wall that surrounds the I-beam will be located 9’-11” away from the artifact itself. The wall will be sloped to represent the ebb and flow of life, love, and water.
Additional features of the September 11th Memorial Plaza include ground set-up lights that will shine at the plaza during the evening hours. An interpretive sign will be welcome visitors to the plaza to educate the public about the timeline of events on that fateful day and also serve as recognition for benefactors who have made the plaza possible.
Call (609) 967-7057 with any additional questions.