The memorial is honoring the 99 fallen post-9/11 service members from New York City, and a third of them lived in Queens. Rendering by Douwe Blumberg
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the initial designs for the new $5 million memorial at City Hall on Tuesday. The memorial, named “Flames of Honor,” will be built on the Whitestone waterfront to honor the 99 fallen post-9/11 service members from NYC who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service in Afghanistan and Iraq. The artist behind the design is Douwe Blumberg, and the construction will take place in Queens.
Why is this important, you ask? Well, these fallen soldiers defended the American Dream with their lives, and it’s only fair to give them the tribute they deserve. Mayor Adams stated, “With this memorial, we will honor a new generation of souls who gave their lives far too early in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and say ‘thank you’ to our service members and veterans every day of the year with a beautiful space for remembrance and reflection.” It’s a way to show gratitude and respect to those who have served their country.
The memorial will be located in Queens, which had the largest number of post-9/11 service members in the city who were killed in action. Queens also has the highest population of living veterans among the five boroughs. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards allocated $3 million in capital funds towards the construction of the memorial. He emphasized the importance of giving proper recognition to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the country. The memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to the heroes who answered the call after 9/11 and never returned home. It’s a way to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten.
