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| Architect Offers Changes to 9/11 Memorial |
| 2005-09-15 |
| WASHINGTON (AP) - The architect of the memorial to a plane downed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001, said Wednesday he would work to satisfy critics who complained that it honors terrorists with its crescent-shaped design. Designer Paul Murdoch said he is "somewhat optimistic" that the spirit of the design could be maintained. "It's a disappointment there is a misinterpretation and a simplistic distortion of this, but if that is a public concern, than that is something we will look to resolve in a way that keeps the essential qualities," Murdoch, 48, of Los Angeles, said in a telephone interview. Murdoch's design, "Crescent of Embrace," was selected last week during a meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission from five narrowed down from 1,011. The recommendation of the 15-member jury consisting of design professionals and family and community members still needs to be approved by the Interior Department. Its shape is a circle broken by the flight pattern of the plane, which supporters have said follows the topography of the crash site. Chris Martin, spokesman for Flight 93 National Memorial, said Wednesday family members and federal advisory commission members turned to Murdoch for assistance. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., sent a letter Tuesday to National Park Service Director Fran Mainella saying many have questioned the shape "because of the crescent's prominent use as a symbol in Islam - and the fact that the hijackers were radical Islamists." Will Adams, spokesman for Tancredo, said Wednesday Tancredo would be happy with the changes only if the crescent shape is removed. Murdoch said he's not sure exactly what changes he would make. The memorial also consists of a chapel with 40 metallic wind chimes - one for each victim. It would include pedestrian trails and a roadway to a visitor center and the actual crash site. At the site would be a crescent-shaped cluster of maple trees and a white marble wall inscribed with the victims' names. "We called it a crescent because it was a curving land form. We called it 'Crescent of Embrace' because of the symbolic gesturing of embracing this place," Murdoch said. "There's no desire to make this a divisive memorial." Gordon Felt, of Remsen, N.Y., whose brother Edward Felt was killed on Flight 93, said he called Tancredo's office and said Tancredo should have held off on his criticism. "I wish he would come out to Somerset and see topography of the land," Felt said. Felt said it is natural for the design to evolve. "I think the topography of the land would really dictate there would be some kind of arc," Felt said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 hell I'd even go with the last place winner. This is just too outrageous. |
| Posted by: Jan 2005-09-15 20:38 |
| #6 Screw it. What's the second place winner look like? |
| Posted by: Gleretch Glearong1491 2005-09-15 11:47 |
| #5 "Crescent Embrace" huh? Hard to misinterpret the title |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-09-15 11:10 |
| #4 How about a nice seal? Something with a plane rotoring in, and a motto: "Kill them all; Salt the ground." |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-09-15 10:40 |
| #3 It would have been forcefully "reinterpreted" after it was built anyway. |
| Posted by: Ulereger Clavigum6227 2005-09-15 08:34 |
| #2 Sometimes Symbols don't appear exactly as planned, I applaud the Artist's willingness to alter the design. Few folks realise their design looks much different than they intended untill outsiders point it out. Some funny acronyms come to mind. NOT as originaly intended. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-09-15 01:12 |
| #1 I appreciate the architect's stated willingness to address the questions in a thoughtful manner. He didn't instantly respond to the accusations by denouncing Chimy McBushitler and his fascist Rethuglicans. He probably will eventually, but for now he seems sane. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-09-15 00:48 |