9-11 Observed with Dedication of Utah Memorial
Each year since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Davis County Youth of Promise organization has hosted a memorial service on that anniversary as its members and leaders worked toward raising funds for a permanent memorial. This year’s memorial service marked the realization of that dream with the completion and dedication of a monument at the Utah State University Botanical Center in Kaysville.
Margaret Wahlstrom, a leader with the youth volunteer group and a relative of two victims of 9/11, organized the project, and while the Youth of Promise members who originated the idea of a memorial are now well into their 20s and older, new members of the group through the years have kept the dream alive and continued fundraising efforts.
In the early days of the project, members of the group made a presentation to Utah State University asking for a place to create a memorial and university donated land at the USU Botanical Center in Kaysville. Wednesday [Sept.11] the memorial was unveiled and dedicated at a sunrise service that included remarks by Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, musical numbers, participation from representatives of the U.S. military and first responders.
The memorial is situated near the USU Botanical Center ponds and includes a bronze plaque featuring artwork and poetry created by Utah children and two plaques listing the names of military men and women from Utah who have died in service to the country since that day.
Another plaque honors native Utahns Mary Alice Wahlstrom and daughter, Carolyn Beug, who were on American Airlines Flight 11 when it crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, and USU alumnus Brady Howell who died when American Airlines Flight 77 destroyed the area he was working in at the Pentagon.
In addition to the plaques, a sculpture of a firefighter carrying a little girl sits at the monument’s center.
In all, the youth raised $200,000 over the years as they learned important lessons in organization, communication and making community connections.
“The group’s wish and ours is that the memorial will become a place of peace and reflection,” said USU Botanical Center Director Dave Anderson. “And that the three words set in bronze there — unity, remembrance and hope — will inspire visitors at the site.”
The dedication ceremony was covered by a number of Utah news organizations, including The Deseret News, KSL-TV news and Utah Public Radio.
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The memorial includes bronze plaques remembering the Utahns who died in the 9/11 attacks and a sculpture of a firefighter carrying a young girl. (all photos by Gary Neuenswander)
Utah State University's Botanical Center provides a beautiful setting for the memorial, providing a place of peace and reflection.
Detail from the memorial's sculpture.
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