Politics & Government

Where to Put a 9/11 Memorial in Abington?

Abington gets the ball rolling on a 9/11 memorial

 

Though it may seem a bit late, the Abington Public Safety Committee discussed some details on a 9/11 memorial and approved a motion to establish a donation account to build the memorial.

The placement of the memorial raised some questions.

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The plan is to build a memorial consisting of a flag pole and a pentagon-shaped masonry base supporting a two-foot steel section of one of the World Trade Center towers near the township fire and police training grounds. The memorial would be illuminated and open 24/7.

Abington Fire Marshal Ken Clark said the fire department received one of the last steel sections from the World Trade Center towers in New York City; Clark said the department put in a request for one of the artifacts years ago, but said the request got lost.

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According to Clark, the department thought about placing the memorial outside of the township building, but Clark said it would “be a bit much” with the other memorials. 

Clark said the fire department will raise about $15,000 to construct the memorial.

Abington Commissioner Steven Kline said he would like to see such a memorial in a more prominent location. Abington Commissioner Carol DiJoseph said more details about the memorial will be available at the full board meeting Oct. 11.

Resident Lora Lehman said that she liked the idea of having a 9/11 memorial, but said she was bothered that donations will be passed through a township account. She said she would rather see an independent nonprofit organization — similar to the Veterans Grove organization at Roslyn Park — handle the plans for the memorial.

 

 


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