"The monument will be located at the foot of Grand Street at the waterfront," said John Guarini, chairman of the Jersey City 9/11 Monument Committee.
Originally, the monument had been viewed as only temporary, but the committee decided it would become permanent at the Grand Street location.
"The monument will remain there, but it does not exclusively reflect the committee's feelings on Sept. 11," Guarini explained. "We would like to build a world-class monument, and rushing it would not be a good idea."
The city is still accepting proposals for a second memorial that will be built some time in the future.
The first monument, to be unveiled before the public at 10:34 a.m. on Sept. 11, will be made of black granite, according to Guarini.
"It will be about six feet in length and height," Guarini stated, adding that the width of the monument would be eight and half inches.
Inscribed on the front face of the memorial, which will face Manhattan, will be the names of the Jersey City residents lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
"The committee wants to do justice to the lives and memories of those who were lost at the World Trade Center," said Garry Nye, a member of the 9/11 Memorial Committee. "We hope it will bring closure to the people who have lost loved ones."
Carved on the opposite side of the monument, according to Guarini, will be the Manhattan skyline before the destruction of the World Trade Center.
"There is also going to be a small gas burning flame on each side of the granite monument," said Guarini. "They will be installed in the near future. Right now the gas lines do not reach the location."
Positioned directly behind the granite memorial will be three pieces of steel donated to Jersey City for the purpose of inclusion in a 9/11 monument, said committee member Guy Catrillo.
Catrillo said that the steel originally served as floor beams in the Twin Towers.
According to the committee's plans, two, 18-foot steel beams will be set up at 45 degree angles to each other. A third, 25-foot beam, which had been twisted in the collapse of the towers, will be welded across the center of the other two beams, creating the letter A.
"Of course the 'A' stands for America," said Catrillo.
Second monument
Catrillo said the committee was receiving a steady stream of proposals for the second monument.
"Because of the long weekend, we got about 30 proposals," Catrillo said. "On average, we get at least five to eight proposals daily."
Catrillo added most of the ideas for the second 9/11 memorial have been coming from around the United States. However, other nations have been making contributions.
"We have gotten stuff sent to us from Canada and China," stated Catrillo.
In the coming months, the committee will be focusing on fundraising efforts to finance the second monument, Catrillo said.
"We are also going to work on site selection," Catrillo added.
Anyone wishing to make donations or suggestions to the Jersey City 9/11 Monument Committee should call (201) 547-5572.
Voice of freedom
Performing at the Sept. 11 Memorial program will be singer Susan Lorichio who has recorded a CD of patriotic music entitled "Voice of Freedom."
"The CD is the theme music for the Flight Across America project, which is happening on Sunday, Sept. 8," said Lorichio.
The New York-New Jersey portion of Flight Across America will involve 53 pilots representing all the states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Flight organizer Molly Peebles.
"The state designated planes will take off from Essex County Airport in Caldwell, N.J., fly up the Hudson, passing by the USS Intrepid and the Hudson County area at around 10:30 a.m., and then return to Caldwell," said Lorichio.
The pilots will then be transported to the Intrepid, where they will present each state's flag to a number of dignitaries, including Eric Lindbergh, grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.
Lorichio said Peebles arranged for the flight honoring the victims of 9/11 because she wanted to show aviation in a good light.
"Airplanes had been used to destroy things," said Lorichio. "This Honor Flight will show that aviation will be used for helping people."
A part of the proceeds from sales of the "Voice of Freedom" CD will be donated to The Foundation for Alger Families. The foundation, created just after 9/11 to help the survivors of the 35 employees of the investment advisory firm Fred Alger and Co. killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center, provides funding for education and other financial needs. Information on purchasing "Voice of Freedom" CD can be gotten by calling 1-800-41-SOUND.
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