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Mayor Ryan Breaks Ground at 9/11 Memorial Site and Announces Open Competition for Final Design Element
5/8/2006

(Binghamton, NY) –  Mayor Matthew T. Ryan, members of the 9/11 Memorial Committee of the Southern Tier, and a team of project sponsors broke ground this morning for the long-awaited 9/11 Memorial in the City of Binghamton. Construction will begin within two weeks, almost all of it by volunteers, and members of the Steering Committee are hoping to complete the project by the fifth anniversary later this year. “This memorial is to remind us always of the innocent lives that were ended that tragic morning by criminal violence, hatred and extremism,” said Mayor Ryan. “It is also to honor all public safety officers who serve the public everyday with valor and selfless duty. It is this commitment to the common good that we too easily forget, and those who lost their lives on September 11 to help and save strangers deserve our respect, admiration, and emulation.” The site for the memorial, between City Hall and the Central Fire Station on State Street, was determined and announced by Mayor Bucci on September 17, 2003.  A design was then conceived and created by members of Keystone Associates and will feature a 4-foot, 300-pound section of steel from the remains of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  The steel section will be illuminated by 110 points of light, which represent the number of floors in the towers. Binghamton is one of approximately 55 U.S. cities granted permission by the New York City Office of Emergency Management to use steel from the towers to create a permanent local memorial. One small element of the memorial, however, remains undecided: what to etch on the nine 3’ x 5’ glass panels along the circumference of the memorial. The 9/11 Memorial Committee of the Southern Tier has decided to open this up to community participation, inviting residents to submit personal expressions and reflections that might be etched into any or all of the panels. Submissions may include but are not limited to narratives, poetry, drawings, or timelines. Entries will be accepted from now until Friday June 30, 5:00pm, and packets with competition guidelines are available at the city website, the Mayor’s Office, and all Binghamton fire stations. Though the memorial is estimated at nearly $300,000, over $200,000 is being provided through donations and in-kind services. Nearly the entire construction is being done for free by local labor organizations and contractors (see below for list of sponsors). The committee will need to raise the difference, and fundraising efforts are already underway. Members of the Binghamton Fire Department and Council member Tony Massar are planning to host a golf tournament at the end of the month, and Council member John Cordisco has offered to coordinate a “can drive.” “We are hoping to memorialize an event that was intended to traumatize and divide us,” said Mayor Ryan, “so it’s only fitting that the community has come together and shown nothing but generosity and support thus far. I have no doubt the committee will raise the necessary funds to complete this important memorial. This might be a small city, but it has a huge heart.” The 9/11 Memorial Committee of the Southern Tier would like to thank the following sponsors: City of  Binghamton, Binghamton City Council, Binghamton Professional Firefighters Local 729, Binghamton PBA, Keystone Associates, Con Mas Incorporated ,Carpenters Local 281, Electricians Local 325, Laborers Local 7, Roofers Local 203, B&S Quarries, C&C Concrete, Pacemaker Steel, Binghamton Plate Glass, and Rexel Electrical Supply. For more information about the design plan, fundraising efforts and competititon guidelines, please visit www.cityofbinghamton.com. CONTACTS: Office of the Mayor: Tarik Abdelazim, Deputy Mayor, (607) 772-7001, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com 911 Memorial Committee of the Southern Tier Jerry Marinich, retired Binghamton firefighter, (607)743-8394, jfm729@aol.com

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