The LA Times today brings a report about a cross being dedicated in Shanksville PA as a memorial to those who died when UA 93 crashed on 9/11. It is made of WTC steel, and is located at a nearby fire-station.
First, I have no problem with memorializing those who died on the flight, nor the use of a Pentagon shaped base or WTC steel. Nice symbolism all.
So what bothers me? The cross. There are two things wrong. First, I’m pretty sure not everyone on the flight was Christian. Isn’t it disrespectful to their faiths to use a cross to memorialize them? Second, the memorial is at a fire station. I don’t believe a cross-shaped memorial belongs at a government fire station (however, if that fire station is truly private, I have no problem with that aspect).
The solution is so simple. Just remove the cross member. Make it a non-denominational obelisk, just like the Washington Monument. That’s a wonderful way to truly honor all those who died on the flight.
