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 A Remembrance Plaza Dedicated in Memory for the City of Lansing
By Mike Bristor, Landscape Architect with Landscape Architects & Planners, Inc., Lansing, Michigan
It was September 11, 2001, and we were all terrified about what was unfolding as one of the worst tragedies in U.S. history. It was a day of chaos and confusion, and a day during which we lost our collective national feeling of security and safety. We had taken our freedom and America’s pride as a nation for granted, and prior to that day, the respect for our firefighters, police officers, and emergency response people had eroded. It was a day in history that surely will never be forgotten, for the spirit and freedom of America was truly under attack. The severity and devastation was not even known until many months after September 11th. Many people and families were affected deeply, some through death, while others were left behind to persevere.
It was September 11, 2002; how should we remember? That was the question that was asked by the City of Lansing, Michigan. This task was given to Murdock Jemerson, Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Lansing (LPR). The Honorable Mayer David Hollister of Lansing received many calls from citizens of Lansing asking if there would be a remembrance ceremony. Little did the city know that they would be approved to receive a piece of the World Trade Center.
The LPR staff received a letter indicating that the City of Lansing was 137th of 150 cities that could go to the New York landfill where all the materials were removed from ground zero, to pick up a piece of steel I-beam from one of the twin towers and bring it back to Lansing. The LPR staff did so and then approached our firm, Landscape Architects & Planners, to come up with a permanent memorial for Lansing. This would have been fine under normal conditions; however, they came to our firm on August 12th, one month prior to the anniversary. This meant that we were asked to come up with a design, prepare construction drawings, and have it built by September 11th. This process normally takes about three months under normal conditions; however, these were not normal conditions. Our firm felt a sense of duty to design a final resting-place for this beam.
I had seen pictures of the piece of I-beam, which was ten feet tall and weighed approximately 980 pounds. However, when I went to the LPR maintenance garage to see the I-beam for the first time, I quickly realized that the pictures did not do it justice. Once I saw the beam, there was a certain emotional attachment that was not there before. All the pictures and images on television became more real, and I felt a deeper respect for all those who died that day and risked their lives to save others. It reminded me of the motto “greater is he who gives his life for another”.
The memorial was designed with an elevated square concrete base, upon which the I-beam was placed. Each side of the base incorporates a granite panel. Three of the sides represent the states affected by the tragedy: New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The fourth panel contains a dedication statement, which reads “Remembrance Memorial – Dedicated to the courage, strength and indomitable American spirit of those who perished and those who persevered during the events of September 11, 2001 – Lansing Remembers”. Trees were also planted to represent each state’s tree; sugar maple for New York, eastern hemlock for Virginia, and flowering dogwood for Pennsylvania. Future plans include a brick plaza, lighting and a memorial wall seating area.
With the help of many individuals the memorial was completed on September 11, 2002 for the ceremony. Reflection and pride were felt by all the individuals who attended the unveiling of the Remembrance Plaza.
If you are ever in the Lansing area, the Remembrance Plaza is located at the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Grand Avenue in Wentworth Park along the Grand River.
It was my privilege to be a part of this special tribute. May God bless America.
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