The Rolling Memorial facts for kids
The Rolling Memorial is a special big truck, an 18-wheeler, that has a huge painting on its side. This painting is a tribute to the people who lost their lives in the sad events of September 11, 2001, often called the 9/11 attacks. A man named John Holmgren from Minnesota in the United States thought of this idea after hearing a song.
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The Rolling Memorial: A Tribute on Wheels
What is the Rolling Memorial?
The Rolling Memorial is a large semi-trailer truck that has been turned into a moving artwork. Its purpose is to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks, which were a series of terrible events that happened in the United States. The truck's sides are covered with a beautiful mural that helps people remember those who were lost.
How Was It Created?
John Holmgren, who is a truck driver, wanted to create something special to remember the 9/11 victims. He decided to transform his own 18-wheeler truck into this tribute. He worked with an artist who helped create the big painting. The images and the names of the victims were printed onto special vinyl sheets. These sheets were then carefully put onto the truck. This whole project cost almost $40,000 in US dollars. To help pay for this, John sold things like t-shirts and toy models of the truck.
Why is it So Popular?
The Rolling Memorial became very famous because of an email that was shared by many people. This email started in 2004 when someone from a food company took a picture of the truck. The email was sent to many people, including famous singers like Jimmy Buffett and Reba McEntire. These celebrities then asked John Holmgren to bring his truck to their concerts. In 2004, the truck was also invited to "ground zero," which is the place in New York City where the attacks happened, for a special ceremony.
Where Can You See It?
John Holmgren travels all over the United States with The Rolling Memorial. He still uses the truck to carry goods when he can. He has shared stories about how people react to the truck. For example, police officers sometimes stop him just to take a picture with the truck. Once, he even avoided a speeding ticket because the officer admired what he was doing. John has received emails from people in over 20 different countries. There are also many websites dedicated to his special truck. He has also met with families of the 9/11 victims, which is very meaningful.
