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View Full Version : Very Cool Sept. 11th Tribute in Utah



NoahsMommy
01-08-2003, 04:37 PM
This is so neat....it almost takes your breath away reading and seeing all these pictures...enjoy! I'm not sure who wrote it.

I never heard or saw anything about this in the media. I was going to the bank when I saw this. I went home, got my wife Linda, and came back with a camera. Below is my best, though inadequate, attempt to share the experience with you.....

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/pec392ce765914a6aaf47ac05dfb68450/fccec08f.jpg
The above picture was taken on the mall in front of the Sandy, Utah city hall. Scroll sideways to see the whole thing. I pasted the photos together to try and help show just how big this thing was, but even with that, the photos don't do it justice. There was very little publicity about this, but it was a real traffic stopper. People would park and get out and walk among the flags. Some brought bundles of flowers and left them at the base of a flag. Others came together and just hugged each other hard in the silent memory of the terrible loss that we suffered one year ago. We all know over 3000 people lost their lives, but seeing this display, and walking among it, helps put perspective on just how big a number that is.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/pe2d280316bec4627d022b0970ccf8fe5/fccec08e.jpg
Close up of the one of the signs placed around the perimeter of the display. There were also some international flags on display representing some of the various foreign nations whose citizens dies that day. Interestingly, this whole display was done by a local company that manufactures and distributes flags and flag display equipment...and I saw not a single sign bearing their name in the display. People walked through, and all you could hear was the sound of the flags blowing in the breeze. A reverent silence prevailed over the display as those who came each reviewed his or her experiences of that fateful day a year ago.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/p1df18a0a383dca7483a1fd02ab61fcb6/fccec08d.jpg
I saw many families while I was there. It was hard watching adults struggling to cope with their own emotions while caring for children who were far too young to understand the significance of the flags around them. Too the credit of the children, I didn't see any who could not somehow sense that this was a special place. For a few moments, everyone who came, young and old, male and female, families, and even a group of mentally handicapped individuals stopped their busy daily lives to remember. If those who caused this pain only knew how much stronger we have become, and how terribly their comrades have paid, and will continue to pay, for this horrible crime, I wonder if they still would have done what they did.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/pbaba3c59f702fb4205f8533c272cbc9b/fccec08c.jpg
It's hard to picture mentally just how big this thing is. As I walked among the rows, I was reminded of rank on rank of soldiers standing at attention, guarding us even now.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/pe5a240b69dadf1e1f300ea64115fb1fc/fccec088.jpg
Some brought flowers, small flags, notes etc. The flags didn't have individual names on them so I don't know how people picked out where they would leave these tokens as they experienced their own memories and grief. For anyone who has ever shed a few tears at THE WALL (the Viet Nam Veterans memorial in Washington DC) or during the changing of the guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA, this display is every bit as moving in its sheer power to remind those who come of just how deeply we all experienced the cowardly attack on innocent civilians in our own homeland.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/pe3b70ab3046f5f07155b2d4ca5cea81c/fccec084.jpg

Aspen and Misty
01-08-2003, 06:27 PM
O wow! That is just amazing! Look at all those flags! Must have been magnificint!

Ash

Karen
01-08-2003, 07:00 PM
Thank you for sharing that with us. Your description and photos were very moving, yet I'm sure it's just a fraction of the emotion those witnessing it in person, like yourself, felt.

Cinder & Smoke
01-08-2003, 07:36 PM
Wow!

Nice Tribute, Sandy, Utah!

COCatMama
01-08-2003, 07:43 PM
Pretty cool, but not all innocent lives lost on that day were Americans, there were Canadians, British, etc etc...

Nomilynn
01-08-2003, 07:47 PM
Originally posted by Lalania
Pretty cool, but not all innocent lives lost on that day were Americans, there were Canadians, British, etc etc...

It did say this as well :) :

There were also some international flags on display representing some of the various foreign nations whose citizens dies that day

I don't think it matters, though. It's still a wonderful tribute. :)

AmberLee
01-08-2003, 08:02 PM
I hadn't noticed at first, but in the fifth photo from the top you can see some of the international flags, too. I don't recognize the ones shown there -- does anyone else here?

Great tribute Kelly/NM. Thanks. I've also seen this at the Snopes Urban Legend website -- can't remember, but it seems like there were more photos shown there, even. Very impressive.

primabella
01-08-2003, 08:10 PM
great tribute! it's really touching to see that. i'm happy they put some international flags as well :D

sandragonfly
01-09-2003, 04:21 AM
AWESOME!! Hmm, one more time... AWESOME! He-hee


Originally posted by AmberLee
I hadn't noticed at first, but in the fifth photo from the top you can see some of the international flags, too. I don't recognize the ones shown there -- does anyone else here?

Great tribute Kelly/NM. Thanks. I've also seen this at the Snopes Urban Legend website -- can't remember, but it seems like there were more photos shown there, even. Very impressive.

and yeah I noticed it! The yellow-colour zapped my attention :)

wolf_Q
01-09-2003, 11:04 AM
Wow, that is amazing! I'm really not too far from Sandy, Utah. I would definitely have gone to see this, but I did not know about it. It's a wonderful tribute.

NoahsMommy
01-09-2003, 12:53 PM
Originally posted by Karen
Thank you for sharing that with us. Your description and photos were very moving, yet I'm sure it's just a fraction of the emotion those witnessing it in person, like yourself, felt.
I didn't write this...it was an email I got yesterday. :)

It is very cool, I was almost in tears seeing it. The first picture was much larger before I moved it to Imagestation....I wish it would have kept its size, you could see everything.

If anyone is interest in learning more about all the tributes (world wide) that were done, go get Chicken Soup for the American Soul. I'm reading it now and it is so very touching. It talks about other countries loss, support and all the very heart-warming help others offered to people they didn't know. Its a wonderful book to read. Warning...read it with a tissue box close by! ;)

Randi
01-09-2003, 01:19 PM
What a wonderful tribute! :) I'm glad to hear that the flag company didn't advertise!

Thanks for sharing!

sandragonfly
01-10-2003, 05:18 AM
Originally posted by NoahsMommy

I didn't write this...it was an email I got yesterday. :)

It is very cool, I was almost in tears seeing it. The first picture was much larger before I moved it to Imagestation....I wish it would have kept its size, you could see everything.

If anyone is interest in learning more about all the tributes (world wide) that were done, go get Chicken Soup for the American Soul. I'm reading it now and it is so very touching. It talks about other countries loss, support and all the very heart-warming help others offered to people they didn't know. Its a wonderful book to read. Warning...read it with a tissue box close by! ;)

Yeahh!! GREAT book - very emotionally too - I just got that book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul of America". I am soo sad to just finish 8th page in two days! I can't wait to read more! Where are you on now, Noah's Mommy? Anyone else have it?

todd
01-10-2003, 10:38 PM
thanks for posting that

HoRsELUvR
01-11-2003, 12:14 PM
Wow! so many flags!

NoahsMommy
01-12-2003, 12:25 AM
Originally posted by Gina's Ark Inc.
Yeahh!! GREAT book - very emotionally too - I just got that book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul of America". I am soo sad to just finish 8th page in two days! I can't wait to read more! Where are you on now, Noah's Mommy? Anyone else have it?
I'm in the section that talks about people's contributions...about half way through it. I love the Chicken Soup books, and this one required many, many more tissues than any of the others. :( It is a very good book though. I think everyone should read it.

Ann
01-12-2003, 09:41 AM
I once saw a tons of little stick figures put up on a field, each one symbolizing an innocent victim that were killed when the USA bombed Afhanistan as revenge for September 11th. That was nice.

There's a nice article about that here (http://www.globalexchange.org/september11/apogreport.pdf).