Two important milestones in the creation of an appropriate memorial are a memorial mission statement and a memorial program. A mission statement provides inspiration and guidance for the memorial, while the memorial program identifies specific elements that will be included in the World Trade Centre Site Memorial. In January 2003, the LMDC released a draft memorial mission statement and program for public comment. The draft was the product of two committees comprised of family members of the victims, survivors, first responders, residents and business owners in Lower Manhattan, and representatives of cultural and architectural institutions. These committees premised their work on an earlier draft mission statement and program created by the LMDC’s Families Advisory Council. Prior mailings to family members included both drafts of the memorial mission statement and program. After the public comment period in January, several changes were made, and in April 2003 the LMDC Board of Directors passed a resolution approving both documents.

The final Memorial Mission Statement and Program are the core of the guidelines for the World Trade Centre Site Memorial Competition, the next step in the memorial process. Through this competition, which was launched on April 28, 2003, a design for the World Trade Centre Memorial will be selected that will honour equally all the victims of the February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Earlier in April, the LMDC announced a group of jury members who will evaluation the submissions and select a final design. For information on the jury and the memorial competition, please visit the LMDC website at www.renewnyc.com or the official memorial competition website at www.wtcsitememorial.org.

Before jury members embark on the challenging task of evaluating and reviewing thousands of memorial submissions, it is essential that they understand the public’s perspectives, in particular the families’ perspectives. The LMDC is again inviting the families to participate in this historic process. “Public Perspectives – An Outreach Campaign for the World Trade Centre Site Memorial” will provide the families, and others affected by the tragic events of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001 with an opportunity to share with jury members their hopes and aspirations for the World Trade Centre Memorial. This mailing is being sent to over 6,500 family members who lost loved ones at the World Trade Centre site, the Pentagon and Somerset County, Pennsylvania. We hope all families will take the opportunity to read the information contained in this mailing and provide us with their comments. For those families who have responded to previous mailings, we want to thank you for your involvement and encourage you to continue to provide valuable feedback.

There are several ways families can provide comment. The LMDC is holding a public forum with jury members on May 28, 2003 in Lower Manhattan. Those unable to attend can view the public forum and provide comments on the LMDC website at www.renewnyc.com through June 15.2003. We also have a special Victims Families page on our website that we encourage you to visit. To provide comments, you can either return the enclosed form to the LMDC or provide comments directly through the website. Following the comment period, each jury member will be given a record of all the public comment that was received. In October, in a manner determined in consultation with the jury, the LMDC will reveal to the public the Stage II designs, with a final selection later in the Fall.

Enclosed please find the following documents: 1. Additional information on the Public Perspectives Outreach Campaign. 2 Families Comment/Contact Form. 3. Information on the Memorial Competition. 4. Copy of the Memorial Mission Statement and Program. We urge you to share this information with other family members and to encourage them to return the comment/contact form so that we can add them to our mailing list and continue to reach out to as many family members as possible.

On May 3, 2003, the LMDC hosted “A Family-to-Family Outreach Drive”. The LMDC would like to thank all of those family members who took the time to assist us with sending out this mailing. Thanks to your efforts, family members throughout the nation and the world will continue to have an opportunity to participate in creating a fitting memorial to their loved ones.

THE MEMORIAL MISSION STATEMENT

Remember and honour the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.

Respect this place made sacred through tragic loss.

Recognise the endurance of those who survived, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us in our darkest hours.

May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened by eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance.

THE MEMORIAL PROGRAM

I. Guiding Principles

The memorial is to:
Embody the goals and spirit of the mission statement;
Convey the magnitude of personal and physical loss at this location;
Acknowledge all those who aided in rescue, recovery and healing;
Respect and enhance the sacred quality of the overall site and the space designated for the Memorial;
Encourage reflection and contemplation;
Evoke the historical significance and worldwide impact of September 11, 2001;
Create an original and powerful statement of enduring and universal symbolism;
Inspire and engage people to learn more about the events and impact of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993;
Evolve over time.

II. Programme Elements

The memorial should:
Recognize each individual who was a victim of the attacks
Victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania
Victims of the February 26, 1993 terrorist bombing of the World Trade Centre

Provide space for contemplation
An area for quiet visitation and contemplation
An area for families and loved ones of victims
Separate accessible space to serve as a final resting-place for the unidentified remains from the World Trade Centre site

Create a unique and powerful setting that will

Be distinct from other memorial structures like a museum or visitor centre
Make visible the footprints of the original World Trade Centre towers
Include appropriate transitions or approaches to, or within, the memorial

Convey historic authenticity
The memorial or its surrounding areas may include:
Surviving original elements
Presentation of existing conditions of the World Trade Centre site
Allowances for public ceremonies and celebrations

Taken from LMDC website

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