Proposed 9/11 Memorial Shares History, Honors Victims of Terrorist Attacks

A committee headed by Farmington Public Safety Director Bob Schulz has launched a drive to raise $15,000 for a public art work that includes a historic piece of steel. 

Designed by S3 Architects, the rectangular monument will incorporate a beam from one of the World Trade Center towers, which came down in a 2001 terrorist attack. According to a promotional mailer, it "thoughtfully records and explains" the events of 9/11 and serves as a memorial to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the New York towers, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and in four plane crashes on that day. 

The victims included Joshua Rosenthal, whose father Avram "Skip" Rosenthal owned a bookstore in downtown Farmington that closed in 2005. 

With the exception of some in-kind services, the memorial project will receive no city funding.

"I hope that we see a groundswell of support from the community," project architect Steve Schneeman said during a Jan. 28 Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board meeting. Schneeman is also a DDA board member.

Funding commitments need to be in place by March, DDA board president Bob Rock said. He asked that the board consider supporting the project, which will be installed in front of Farmington city hall. "I know our budget is tight ... but I also think this is going to be something very important in the downtown," he said. 

Anyone interested in making a donation may contact Schulz, 248-474-5500, ext. 2235.