A memorial honoring those lost in the years since the September 11 attacks is taking shape at Battleship Memorial Park, with organizers aiming for completion in time for a dedication ceremony on the anniversary itself.
Ground was broken on the Fallen Heroes Memorial in April, and construction is on track to wrap up by late August, according to the volunteer overseeing the project. As of mid-July, though, organizers said the effort still needed roughly $50,000 to close the funding gap, with the bulk of support so far coming from private donors rather than public sources.
The idea for the memorial dates back to 2007, when a local veteran and longtime advocate first approached the project’s lead organizer about creating a monument dedicated to those who have died during the War on Terror. At the time, it seemed premature to move forward, but as the conflict continued year after year, that changed.
“Coming to the realization that this is a war that will never end” shaped the design, the organizer said, explaining that the memorial was built with the ability to add names over time, even though no one wants to see that need arise.
The project’s lead organizer has personal ties to military service, having deployed to Iraq in the mid-2000s along the Syrian border. He has said he lost a Marine under his direct command during that deployment, along with several others he trained alongside earlier in his military career.
Once complete, the memorial will stand as a permanent tribute at Battleship Park, one of the region’s most visited historic sites, alongside the USS Alabama and other military exhibits. Organizers say they hope the dedication ceremony this September will draw veterans, families of the fallen and members of the public from across the region.
Those interested in contributing to the memorial’s completion can donate through the USS Alabama Foundation, which is coordinating fundraising efforts alongside the project’s organizers as the September deadline approaches.