Empty Sky (memorial) facts for kids
The Empty Sky memorial is New Jersey's official monument to remember the people from the state who died in the September 11 attacks on the United States. It is located in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, right by the Hudson River. From here, you can see where the World Trade Center site once stood across the water. Two designers, Jessica Jamroz and Frederic Schwartz, created it. The memorial was officially opened on September 10, 2011, just one day before the tenth anniversary of the attacks.
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Creating the Memorial's Look
The design for the Empty Sky memorial was chosen from 320 ideas submitted in a worldwide competition. A special committee of families and survivors of the attacks picked it. This memorial honors 746 people from New Jersey who died. These deaths happened at the World Trade Center in 1993 and during the September 11 attacks in 2001. It also remembers those who died on September 11, 2001, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation wanted the memorial to "reflect the legacies of those whose lives were lost." They hoped that the dreams and hopes of these people would lead to a better future for everyone.
The memorial has two tall walls. These walls are placed on a gently sloped hill with a path made of granite. This path points directly towards Ground Zero, the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood. The two rectangular walls are 30 feet (about 9 meters) high. They are also 208 feet and 10 inches (about 63.6 meters) long. This length is the exact width of the original World Trade Center towers. The walls are like a symbolic picture of the towers lying on their sides.
The name of each of the 746 victims is carved into the shiny stainless steel of the walls. The letters are 4 inches (about 10 centimeters) tall. The name of the memorial, Empty Sky, comes from a song by Bruce Springsteen. This song is about the "empty sky" where the tall towers used to be.
Frederic Schwartz, one of the designers, said that he listened carefully to the wishes of the victims' families and friends. He didn't come with a fixed idea of what it should look like. Schwartz also helped design The Rising, another September 11 memorial in Westchester County, New York. He explained that for each project, you start fresh, do a lot of research, and really understand the location and the challenge.
Some people have noticed that the Empty Sky memorial reminds them of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Both memorials have walls covered with names that are easy to touch. However, a key difference is how Empty Sky connects New Jersey with the New York City skyline. The memorial's walls represent the fallen twin towers across the Hudson River.
Building the Memorial
Money for the Empty Sky memorial came from the state of New Jersey, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New Jersey Building Association.
In 2007, construction was delayed because the cost was much higher than expected. This was due to a worldwide increase in the price of stainless steel.
Building finally started in May 2009. There was a big effort to finish the memorial by August 15, 2011, so it would be ready for its planned dedication on September 11, 2011. While the inside of the walls remained stainless steel, the outside surfaces were changed to use a special "architecturally finished concrete." This made them look much nicer than regular concrete.
Opening Ceremony
The dedication ceremony for the Empty Sky memorial took place on September 10, 2011. Many important people attended, including New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie. Five former governors of the state were also there, along with presidential advisor John O. Brennan and Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez. Most importantly, family members of those whose names are carved on the monument were present to honor their loved ones.
Images for kids
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Artist's drawing of visitors between the two walls of Empty Sky.
See also
In Spanish: Cielo vacío (monumento) para niños
