As quoted from the News Release board at rear of statue:
"Matthews International Corp. donated to the City of New York a 6' x 6' bronze statue of a firefighter in an emotional kneeling position along with two 4' x 8' bronze feature plaques in remembrance of the heroes who gave their lives while assisting in rescue operations following the unprecedented act of terrorism against the United States on September 11, 2001."
"The Emergency Services plaque depicts images of firefighters, police officers and emergency services personnel in the line of duty. Popular U.S. scenes such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore and the Liberty Bell frame the words to the song "America the Beautiful" on the second bronze feature plaque. The statue, which was originally commissioned to Matthews by the Firefighters Association of Missouri in October 2000, was recently completed. The Missouri association said "yes" to Matthews' request that they donate the work of art to New York with Matthews to supply the Missouri organization with another statue at a later date."
"We hope that this statue will serve as a source of inspiration to the numerous firefighters, police officers, emergency services personnel, and volunteers who are working tirelessly in the rescue and recovery effort at the site of the World Trade Center destruction," said David J. DeCarlo, the president of Matthews' Bronze Division. "Additionally, it will be a tangible site for those grieving to find solace, a place where flowers, notes and various other memorials to victims can be placed." This heroic size bronze statue was custom manufactured by Pittsburgh based Matthews International Corp.'s plant in Parma, Italy for shipment to Missouri. According to DeCarlo, many coincidences surround the statue's arrival in New York. "It was fate that the 2,700 pound statue entered the United States on September 9 at Kennedy Airport. The statue, which was originally intended to be shipped by ocean freight to the United States for a mid October delivery, was air freighted to the United States at the direction of Matthews' product manager to ensure the October delivery." As it turned out, the statue arrived two days prior to the national disaster and was detained in customs during the closure of Kennedy Airport. Representatives from Matthews worked tirelessly to have the statue released on September 17 and had it in downtown New York by September 18."
"Another coincidence occurred the day the bronze statue was released when the New York Post published a full page photo of a fireman in the same pose the statue depicts at what is being dubbed "Ground Zero." DeCarlo added that the response from the citizens of New York has been overwhelming and that Matthews together with the Firefighters Association of Missouri are honored to contribute to the war effort and the healing process for the citizens of New York." |
