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Awesome Memorials (That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of) to 9/11 Across the Country

By Brooke O’Donnell, Contributor at Warriorlodge.com

This sad day in American history leads to much pause and reflection.  On this day we remember all of those who lost their lives, both victims and heroes alike, as a result of the horrific attacks on our nation.

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America has shown their sadness and gratitude through many ways from ceremonies to memorials.  We are all familiar with the beautiful 9/11 Memorial Reflecting Pools and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial that were constructed to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11.

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Other less known symbols of tribute can be seen across the country to honor these men and women and attest to America’s vow to never forget.  The following memorials are just a small glimpse at some of the beautiful remembrances of that fateful day.

The Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park New Jersey

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The twin walls of this memorial transect a sloping hill and are anchored by a granite path which leads in the direction of Ground Zero.  The measurement of the length of each wall is that of the length of the walls of the former World Trade Center Towers and the height is equal to that of what would be the height of the Twin Towers if they were lying on their side.  The brushed stainless steel walls are inscribed with the name of the 749 victims who called New Jersey their home.

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Visitors passing through the memorial are brought through to the location in the Manhattan skyline where the World Trade Center towers formerly stood.

Utah State University’s Botanical Center’s statue of firefighter and little girl

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Located near the Utah State University’s Botanical Center ponds sits a bronze sculpture of a firefighter carrying a small girl.  In addition to the statue there is a bronze plaque which features poetry and artwork created by the children of Utah.  The names of the men and women from Utah that died serving their country are listed on another plaque at the memorial as well as those who died on the airplanes used in the attack.

Garden of Remembrance: 9/11 Memorial in Massachusetts

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The Garden of Remembrance is located in a quiet spot in the Public Gardens in Boston Massachusetts.  It was created in memorial to the 206 people that perished in the September 11th attacks that had strong ties to Massachusetts.

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A pink granite stone memorial listing the names of those who died along with touching words by a local poet is surrounded by beautiful flowers, plants and benches.  It provides a place to quietly sit and remember those we have lost.

9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine Texas

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This memorial was constructed to honor the memory of the professionals who crewed the American Airlines Flights 11 and 77 and United Airlines Flights 93 and 175.  This bronze sculpture was constructed in Grande style to be 1 ½ times the size of life.  It features two pilots, two flight attendants and a child representing the traveling public.

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The names of the crewmembers are engraved on granite slabs surrounding the sculpture’s base.  Beautiful landscaping and benches surround the memorial.

The Distracted Wanderer 9/11 Living Memorial

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This memorial dedicated to the people from Connecticut or loved ones of those from the state is located in the beautiful Sherwood Island State Park.  It features a 9-foot long granite memorial stone inlaid into the grass and positioned so its visitors face the Manhattan skyline as they are reading the inscription.

A group of roses lay on a memorial during a service marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed 152 people with ties to Connecticut at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
A group of roses lay on a memorial during a service marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed 152 people with ties to Connecticut at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Beside the memorial stone are four granite benches for rest and reflection lined with flowering bushes.  Four large trees can be found behind the benches to provide shelter and shade for those who visit.

To the Struggle Against World Terrorism Memorial

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Also known as the Tear Drop Memorial or the Tear of Grief, this memorial was created by a Russian artist after he witnessed the September 11th attacks on his television.  He was so moved by what he had seen that he wanted to pay respect in some way to those who had lost their lives.  That day when he arrived at work he wanted to create an appropriate form in which to express his feelings regarding the attacks.  He finally settled on the monuments current form to erect a memorial for the victims.  Not wanting to dishonor those who had died and build on top of the bones of the dead, he decided to place the monument in New Jersey where the former World Trade Center Towers would be the back drop of the structure, and so, the back drop of life.  The location of the memorial was at one time a military installation now converted into a public park.

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When the artist looked out from where he would place the monument, it appeared as if the Twin Towers were one unit, hence the design he chose.  His bronze structure gives the appearance of a jagged tear ripping through the center of the tower and in the middle a 4-ton nickel tear hanging from the top.  This tear is not only a symbol of grief and sadness over those lost in the attack that day and the previous attacks on the World Trade Center but also it represented a hope for a future free from terror.

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This monument was constructed with several elements of a reflective nature.  This was done to make the visitors feel like they were actually part of the memorial.  The nickel tear drop is made to be like a mirror along with the reflective qualities of the granite nameplates etched with the names of the victims that make up the stand for the monument.

Wes O'Donnell

Wes O’Donnell is an Army and Air Force veteran and writer covering military and tech topics. As a sought-after professional speaker, Wes has presented at U.S. Air Force Academy, Fortune 500 companies, and TEDx, covering trending topics from data visualization to leadership and veterans’ advocacy. As a filmmaker, he directed the award-winning short film, “Memorial Day.”

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