9/11 Memorial Ready

By KEITH WALKER

It's been a long time coming, but the 9/11 Liberty Memorial is finally a reality.
The memorial honoring 22 Prince William County residents who died on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center will be dedicated at 7 p.m. Tuesday in front of the McCoart Administration Center at One County Complex Court off Prince William Parkway.
A pool of water in the shape of a pentagon with two fountains, representing the World Trade Center towers, and a walkway made of Pennsylvania flagstone representing Flight 93 is the centerpiece of the memorial that is ringed with newly planted trees.

A block of stone from the Pentagon fire is included in the design.

The names of those who perished are inscribed in stone on the side of the pool facing the front of the memorial.

"It's a true tribute to those Prince William residents who died on 9/11," said Prince William County Chairman Sean T. Connaughton, R-at large.

Laurie Laychak and Brenda Lynch, the wives of David Laychak and James Lynch who died in the attack on the Pentagon, formed the 9/11 Memorial Committee in 2003 to raise money for the memorial they estimated would cost about $300,000.

When they reached $290,000 in donations a couple of years later, the committee discovered that the cost to build the memorial had risen by about $175,000.

On Sept. 21, 2005, the committee asked the county for a loan to make up the difference.
The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors initially voted to lend the money to the committee, but reconsidered and reversed its decision on Oct. 5, 2005.

The story wasn't over.

A local business and one of its sub-contractors came through to get the memorial built, Connaughton said.

"When a majority of the board rescinded the county's offer to provide a bridge loan, we had a local company come forward and put up money, and also we had a contractor come forward and build it at cost," Connaughton said.

In all, the the two companies donated more than $200,000 in cash, material and labor to build the memorial, said county spokeswoman Liz Bahrns.

Connaughton said no tax money was used to build the memorial.

Connaughton will announce the donors' names at Tuesday's ceremony.

"The memorial could not have been built without the efforts of many citizens, volunteers and the generous benefactors who contributed their time, talent and resources," Connaughton said in a recent press release.

"We intend to thank these individuals and businesses at the ceremony as well," he said.
More than 150 people have responded, saying they plan to attend the ceremony, Bahrns said.