NEVER FORGET
On Sept. 11, 2019, plans for a fundraising campaign were launched for the purpose of an expansion of The Indiana 9/11 Memorial.
The goal of the campaign is to raise $450,000 to complete an expansion of the Memorial in time for a remembrance ceremony on September 11, 2021, which will be the 20th anniversary since the attacks on 9/11.
How it began.
On April 9, 2011, two 22-ft. beams – harvested from the World Trade Center – were delivered in Indianapolis, protected from a steady rain by an American flag draped carefully over its steel edges. The last leg of the journey began in Richmond, Indiana where an Indiana State Police escort led a procession of more than 11,000 people, many on motorcycles, which spanned nearly 50 miles. The images of this incredible journey went viral and will forever be remembered as a stirring tribute to those that perished on that fateful day.
Following a groundbreaking ceremony in July, 2011, which resulted in a dedication on Sept. 11th, 2011 as the Indianapolis 9/11 Memorial, the monument was created from one man’s resolve and the work of civic leaders and a group of dedicated local citizens. It stands as a testament to the courage of those whose lives have been lost or forever impacted in the years since 9/11, including our military members and first responders. Honoring Hoosier Veterans is our mission and our passion at the Indiana War Memorials and to honor those who have served, are serving and those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.
Never Forget.
At the centerpiece of our fundraising campaign is the recognition that Project 9/11 Indianapolis is complete, and the site is officially renamed the Indiana 9/11 Memorial to reflect its presence as a place where all visitors to the City of Indianapolis are welcome to visit and Never Forget.
Preserving the Indiana 9/11 Memorial is a poignant, timeless reminder of the sacrifice of those whose lives were lost on that fateful day – including nine Hoosiers, among them Lieutenant Colonel Timothy J. Maude. At the time of his service as the U.S, Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Maude was the highest-ranking officer to die by the actions of a foreign enemy since U.S. Army Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., who was killed during the Battle of Okinawa in June 1945 during World War II.
Our Expansion Plan: A Hoosier Legacy Defined.
Placement of the Pentagon Stone. Made entirely of Indiana limestone, quarried from the world-renowned limestone deposits near Bedford, Indiana, the 800-lb. stone was part of the wall from the Pentagon that was damaged in the attacks on 9/11. Its permanent placement within the Memorial follows its dedication in 2014.
Planting of The Survivor Tree. Adding to the legacy associated with the Indiana 9/11 Memorial will be the planting of The Survivor Tree, a sapling of the tree that was found at the bottom of the rubble at Ground Zero. Provided through the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, The Survivor Tree embodies our nation’s spirit of hope and healing, strength and resilience in the wake of the attacks.
Military Monument. A granite stone will be placed inside the expanded Memorial in honor of the nine Hoosiers, whose lives were lost on 9/11.
“Never Forget” Wall. Overlooking the White River Canal, the words “NEVER FORGET” will be etched into the foundation, made from Indiana limestone, as part of a 10-foot expansion of the Memorial.
Please help us complete the expansion of the Indiana 9/11 Memorial. Once our goal of raising $450,000 is reached, we hope you will join us in honoring those whose lives were lost on 9/11 and the sacrifice of our first responders and military members. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
*No public monies of any kind have been or will be used to complete this expansion.