Sept. 11 Monument 'Cloaked in Secrecy'

The journey toward bringing a 9/11 monument to Loma Linda has not been an easy one for the Loma Linda Firefighters Association.

From the moment the association purchased a piece of steel frame from the World Trade Center last year, the group has dealt with large and unforeseen costs that usually surface with projects.

What they originally wanted to build themselves at an estimated cost several thousands will instead cost several hundred thousands as the Loma Linda Department keeps looking to create a memorial becoming of the subject.

But on Tuesday, Loma Linda’s City Council and staffers with Tilden-Coil Constructors, who helping to develop and build the monument, stepped up to a pile of earth to toss the first shovels full of dirt during a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Soon enough, residents will see fencing with skirting around it as work begins on the monument. Much of the work and materials needed have been donated, but not all, project organizers said.

“I’m very confident that with donations from the community and businesses that we’ll reach our goal,” said Nate Boucher, spokesman for the Loma Linda Fire Department.

He did not know how much more was needed, but Boucher said the firefighters association is working to raise a total of $300,000. They will also be working to raise money to cover maintenance costs.

Tilden-Coil, based in Riverside, is donating much of their work and had helped the firefighter association secure donations from other construction companies and developers, Boucher said.

“When we first heard about this project not that many days ago or weeks ago … the question was never put on the table, will we do this? Can we do this? Is this something we want to do?” said Terry Petitt, with Tilden-Coil Constructors, the project executive. “The very first question that came up on the table was how can we help get this done?”

Artist renderings of the project show two large concrete-like pillars holding the steel girder in a small plaza in the shape of a pentagon. The rendering was made public, but the project will be “cloaked in secrecy,” Boucher said.

“So that when it’s seen for the first time, the opportunity to be affected is (possible),” Boucher said. “It will impact many, I promise you this.”

Once completed, the memorial will be the department’s homage to their New York brothers in the fire service killed during the terrorist attack. It's also intended to be a place where residents throughout the county can reflect and remember, project organizers said.

The project will be completed before Sept. 11. They plan to have a ceremony to reveal the completed project, Boucher said.

“Every single one of us remembers (9/11). We know exactly where we were when we heard the news," Pettit said. "And there are numerous children ... Americans yet to be born ... that don’t know about it and it is extremely important to create something like this so that future generations do understand the impact of the chain of events that happened on that day.”

For information on how to be a donor, contact the Loma Linda Fire Department at (909) 799-2850.