To the Struggle Against World Terrorism facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°39′49″N 74°04′09″W / 40.663694°N 74.069083°W |
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| Location | Bayonne, New Jersey, United States |
| Designer | Zurab Tsereteli |
| Height | 100 feet |
| Beginning date | September 16, 2005 |
The To the Struggle Against World Terrorism monument is a large sculpture that stands about 10 stories tall. It is also known as the Tear of Grief or the Tear Drop Memorial. This impressive artwork was created by Zurab Tsereteli and was a special gift from the Russian government to the United States.
It was built to remember the people who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks in 2001. It also honors victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The monument is located in Bayonne, New Jersey, at the end of what used to be the Military Ocean Terminal. The first ceremony to start building it happened on September 16, 2005. Russian President Vladimir Putin was there. The monument was officially opened on September 11, 2006, with former U.S. President Bill Clinton attending.
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What Does the Sculpture Look Like?
The sculpture is a bronze tower that is 100 feet (about 30 meters) tall. It has a jagged opening in the middle. Inside this opening hangs a large, nickel-covered teardrop, which is 40 feet (about 12 meters) tall.
The base of the monument has eleven sides. Each side has granite plates with names carved into them. These are the names of people who died in the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It's important to know that some names on the monument might be slightly different from later official lists.
The artist, Zurab Tsereteli, paid for the materials and the people who worked on the sculpture himself. A lawyer for the artist said the project cost around $12 million. Tsereteli mentioned that the metals used for the sculpture came from a special factory in Dzerzhinsk, Russia, which used to make parts for airplanes.
Where is the Monument Located?
The monument was first offered to Jersey City, New Jersey. However, Jersey City decided not to accept it. So, the sculpture was moved to its current spot in Bayonne, New Jersey.
In 2010, there were plans to build a shipping facility where the monument stands. This meant the monument might have to be moved again. But a local taxi driver, Robert "Captain Bob" Terzi, started an online petition. He wanted to stop the monument from being relocated.
How Do People Feel About the Monument?
The Tear of Grief monument has received different opinions. Foreign Policy magazine once listed it as one of the world's least attractive statues. The New Yorker magazine said that from a distance, it looked like a "giant tea biscuit."
A group called Pro Arts Jersey City described it as "an insensitive, self-aggrandizing piece of pompousness."
World Trade Center Steel Addition
In September 2011, a piece of steel from the original World Trade Center was added near the sculpture. This steel section is 4 feet (about 1.2 meters) long.
Images for kids
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The Tear of Grief monument in Bayonne, New Jersey.
