''Postcards'' is an outdoor sculpture in St. George, Staten Island,

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, United States. Built in 2004, it is a permanent memorial honoring the 274 Staten Island residents killed in the

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...

of 2001 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The dead include many who worked at the

World Trade Center World Trade Centers are sites recognized by the World Trade Centers Association. World Trade Center may refer to: Buildings * List of World Trade Centers * World Trade Center (2001–present), a building complex that includes five skyscrapers, a ...

, police and firefighters who joined the rescue effort and were killed when the towers collapsed, and one passenger on

United Airlines Flight 93 United Airlines Flight 93 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight that was hijacked by four al-Qaeda attackers aboard the plane on the morning of September 11, 2001, as part of the September 11 attacks. The plane eventually crashed in S ...

, who died in the crash in

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. One individual who was killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing is also represented.

Design

Each Staten Island victim is honored with a granite plaque bearing their name, birthdate, and place of work on September 11, 2001, as well as their profile in silhouette. The centerline between the two walls (postcards) points directly at Ground Zero, thereby referencing the twin towers of the World Trade Center destroyed on 9/11. The individual silhouettes all look in the same direction, toward Ground Zero. The effect of standing between the walls can be quite powerful—some have experienced a kind of "oneness" with those who were lost represented in silhouettes as all look together toward the site of the missing towers. The attack on the towers created such massive burning and destruction that few identifiable remains were recovered for burial. According to

James Molinaro James P. Molinaro (born March 11, 1931) is an American politician who is a former Borough President of Staten Island. Molinaro first won election as borough president of Staten Island on November 6, 2001, defeating his Democratic opponent Co ...

, Borough President of Staten Island, "Maybe 60 percent of those of the people whose profile is here, their next of kin, their loved ones, didn't receive any remains. This is their cemetery."

History

The memorial was designed by New York architect Masayuki Sono, who won the design competition held in early 2003. It was commissioned for this site, along the North Shore Waterfront near St. George Terminal, and overlooking the New York Harbor, Lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. Construction began on September 11, 2003 at New England Boatworks. The opening and dedication took place on September 11, 2004. In 2018, upon the request of borough president

James Oddo James Steven Oddo (born January 12, 1966) is an American attorney and politician who served as the Borough President of Staten Island from 2014 to 2021. Oddo had previously served as a member of the New York City Council, representing the 50th d ...

, the office of mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $250,000 from the

New York City Economic Development Corporation New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is a nonprofit corporation whose stated mission is to "leverage the city’s assets to create beneficial jobs that drive growth. This ensures equitable and sustainable development across al ...

to renovate the memorial. Cleanup began in July 2019.

References

External links

* {{World Trade Center Monuments and memorials in New York City Memorials for the September 11 attacks Buildings and structures in Staten Island Tourist attractions in Staten Island 2004 establishments in New York City Marble sculptures in New York City 2004 sculptures St. George, Staten Island