9/11 memorial approved at Meredith fire station

MEREDITH — The 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is only three months away, and the selectboard unanimously approved the construction of a new memorial to be on display at the Meredith Fire Station, during their meeting June 8.

While the selectboard members have consistently said they were on board with the idea, the approval did not come without its tense exchanges and disagreements along the way, mainly about the process.

Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester said during the meeting she thought the memorial would be better suited for Hesky Park, rather than in front of the fire department. Board member Lynn Leighton also said she preferred a more rounded design over the boxed type presented.

Jones met with the selectboard, looking for them to approve the memorial, so organizers can continue the work, including fundraising. He provided the board with renderings, ideas and plans designed by Miracle Farms.

He said about half of the estimated funds — between $40,000 and $50,000 — have been raised. He said there has been significant funding to complete the main portion of the memorial, excluding landscaping work and a walkway.

“We need to get working,” Leighton said.

Jones replied that it is “very doable,” and there has been a holding pattern due to miscommunication with the selectboard.

“I think some of the donations and stuff are waiting to ensure this project is going to be viable,” Jones said.

Forrester thanked Jones for providing an image of the proposed memorial, calling it “amazing” and saying she is excited. She questioned its location.

“It seems to me that this memorial should be at Hesky Park,” Forrester said. “It should be where we have had memorial services the last 25 years.”

Forrester said Hesky Park has easier public access, in an area where people are constantly walking through and can view it. Jones disagreed, and said the original thoughts were that firefighter deaths were among the highest of first responders on Sept. 11. He said the monument will be there for the celebration, and the hope is to have it permanently at the fire department.

Forrester said from her perspective, she wants people to be able to see the monument easily.

“You’re going to get more traffic at Hesky Park,” Forrester said. “You’re going to have easier access for people to look at it. I don’t know that if it’s at the fire station, are people going to walk across?”

She wondered if people would know it was there.

“If the purpose is to honor all those who died that day, we want people to see it,” Forrester said, adding if not Hesky Park, maybe another area with lots of foot traffic.

Chair Steve Aiken said he agreed with the chief it should be at the fire station. While he understood Forrester's point, he thought the fire department still would be a better spot.

“Removing the emotions from this, Hesky Park has a lot of stuff going,” Aiken said. “I think this would be just one more thing that blends in, and doesn’t have the impact. We already have the POW [vigil] on Thursday nights and whatnot. I think Hesky Park would be a little overkill.”

Jones said they have not received final approval from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation on the setbacks, so they have requested to bring the walkway right to the sidewalk.

“I hear what you’re saying, Jeanie,” he said. “Our goal is to have it at the fire station, and maybe it would be more secure at the station, too.”

Selectboard member Mike Pelczar asked where such memorials are across the country.

Gary Pariseau, the town’s fire inspector, said through his traveling he found memorials in Savannah, Georgia, and Cocoa Beach, Florida, at their fire stations. He understands Forrester’s sentiments, but thinks the memorial should be at the station. He suggested including it in the Meredith Sculpture Walk pamphlet.

Chris Maroun, of Miracle Farms, said it was an honor to be involved with the project, and when it was designed, they discussed the location. He said they have gone to great lengths to design it at the current location, with access off the main walkway to be accessible to anyone with mobility challenges, with benches on the side. He said there will be seating walls, at about 18 inches tall, as well.

“Miracle Farms is willing to make a substantial donation towards the project by funding certain phases of it, and we also have the ability, for whatever reason we can’t raise the funds, to phase the project,” Maroun said. “The initial portion of the walls, the patios and the walkway are slated to be done immediately as part of the first phase. If anything gets phased it would be the planting and so on.”

Maroun also said Miracle Farms is committed to the upkeep. He thinks being at the fire station, people can’t miss it. It will be located to the left of the sign.

“It will make a big impact,” Maroun said.

Aiken said there is no parking, and asked Jones how he plans to address this. Jones said there is already parking, for firefighters only, on Daniel Webster Highway. The backside is open to the public. Aiken said there will likely be conversations about this in the future.

Aiken asked for a motion, and Forrester said she wanted to know if these are all at fire stations, or if they are spread out.

“I know Gary said he goes to fire stations when he goes to other places, but I just have a big concern about the lack of access at the fire station, and the ability for people to know it is there, and visit it,” Forrester said.

Jones replied he has two sons who are firefighters in different departments in Maine, with monuments at the stations.

“I think the accessibility is not the issue,” Jones said. “We have a crosswalk.

"We have people walk up that sidewalk continuously, daily, evenings, weekends. I think the accessibility is there, and that it only helps the fire department, and makes it show that we are there and are serving the community. I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

Jones said the towers are already in Vermont, where they are being etched, and benches have arrived.

“No matter where the location is going to be, we need to keep moving, or else we’re not going to meet the deadline of Sept. 11,” Jones said.

Jones said the 9/11 Memorial Committee was meeting that night, “in a few minutes,” to vote. Forrester, a member of the committee, noted she could not attend that meeting.

Leighton moved to approve the memorial with the boxed design, at the fire station. The motion was seconded by Forrester, and it passed with a 5-0 vote.