It's a question that almost everyone has been asked at some point or another. But as time passes, more and more people find they've never been asked this question. The weight of 9/11/2001 is slipping away from the world's consciousness by the day. The unity, the strength, the resolve. It's all escaping our minds collectively as a society. This is how we re-spark that fire.
What started this?
You may be curious as to why a 20-something-year-old born after the events of 9/11 would even launch this kind of project. You'd be justified in being skeptical. This project started rolling from a whole slew of impacts on my life, but what kicked it into gear was a video of the aftermath of 9/11. This one in particular. The sound of the firefighter's PASS alarms going off beneath the rubble, which are devices that go off when a firefighter's body has been immobile for more than 25 seconds. These devices are meant to alert nearby first responders in an emergency that a firefighter is down and possibly incapacitated, requiring aid. Yet, the literal hundreds of PASS alarms wailing in the silence here were never answered until the rubble was cleared.
This video shook me, sure. But it wasn't the catalyst. What was the catalyst was my fiancé, a recently joined firefighter, who showed me her turnout gear for firefighter academy. Sure enough, her helmet was the same exact model as those pictured being worn by firefighters that day like Chief Joseph Pfeifer, the fire chief of Battalion 1 during 9/11.
On top of this, she showed me her classroom where they were putting on their turnout gear. Sure enough, PASS alarms were going off because the students were standing still. It immediately reminded me of that video. The lives lost. The bodies trapped under 110 stories of rubble. It shook me. And I can't imagine what it's like for those directly impacted by the incident. But more and more people are forgetting. Admittedly, I honestly didn't care much either prior to a few years ago. Why would I? In my mind, I wasn't alive for it. So why should I care? What I didn't realize was the awe-inspiring American determination that rebuilt the country from the ashes. The grit. The strength. It's something I wish I could've experienced, but obviously under different circumstances.
People are forgetting what was sloganed as "Never Forget". Time to change that.
What is the 9/11 Mobile Memorial?
The 9/11 Mobile Memorial is a monument and testament to human resolve and in remembrance of all of those lost on that day and after. This comes in the form of a Ford Crown Victoria, specifically designed to be a faithful recreation of both a NYPD (New York Police Department) police interceptor, as well as a FDNY (Fire Department of New York) fire marshal vehicle, split perfectly down the middle. Behind it, a trailer containing 9/11 artifacts and photos, which will always be open to the public to view at every event possible as well as a public storage site for viewing when not directly being used. Every inch of both the trailer and vehicle towing it will have meaning and intention behind it.
The Design
When I first came up with this idea, I was going back and forth whether or not I should do a replica NYPD or FDNY vehicle from 2001. It wouldn't be right of me to only do one department and not the other. Eventually, this idea matured into having both, splitting the paint and decals divided down the middle.
This took colossal amounts of man hours to research and the design for each side of the Crown Victoria and was designed with meticulous care and forethought. See the text within the images throughout this article to learn more on the designs, equipment, and other notes!
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The Equipment
Jack Churchill once said, "Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed". The same goes for any first responder vehicle and the personnel using them.
The vehicles used that day had a variety of equipment on and inside the vehicle including (but not limited to); radar detectors, radios, siren boxes, and emergency lights. All of this would also be mirrored faithfully to their real counterparts with two notable exceptions.
1) The front grille will be split accordingly to the livery
2) The front push guard featured on NYPD cruisers will be fully mounted, as a half-mounted push bar would introduce safety concerns.
It should be noted that a variety of the equipment featured in NYPD vehicles of the time would not be in a NYFD vehicle and vice versa. The exact specifics on these will be explored further in later stages. Additionally, all equipment will be according to the era and will NOT exceed 2001's technology used.
Making It Happen
Obviously, having custom livery and equipment brings questions as to how it will be executed. And, with any vehicle, maintenance is always required. So how is that going to happen?
With the outreach of this program, we're hoping to see some auto paint technicians step up for the task. But this is not guaranteed (nor do we expect it to happen) so shops are already lined up for the paint work.
As for the custom split grille, this will likely be done by me and will be done with care. I have both grilles already from my personal Crown Victoria.
As for maintenance of the Crown Victoria, I have full confidence that I can do this personally. The Crown Victoria platform is modular and easy to maintain, which will reduce costs needed for the project and its upkeep. But, just in case, an auto repair shop has already been made contact with to work on this vehicle should the need arise.
So Where Do We Start?
Obviously, these things need to be sourced and funded. That's why I'm approaching the public to help this vision come to life. A custom email address (9-11mm@eye4eye.org) has been set up and arranged for questions regarding the project and will be the go-to contact point for any issues with reward fulfillment, as nearly ALL donation tiers come with some reward or another.
A roadmap for pre-funding and post-funding is attached below and will provide a better perspective of the timeline. Each entry has pertinent information to the project and will be adhered to strictly to maintain timing.
Thank you!
As we embark on this journey across cities and towns, freeways and parking lots, the 9/11 Mobile Memorial will soon become more than just a collection of relic of an past age. It will become a catalyst for healing and learning for people from all walks of life. This exhibit on wheels will transcend state borders and age barriers, reaching places where the scars of September 11th were felt not just as a distant memory but as a present reality. The 9/11 Mobile Memorial will bring a message of hope to those grappling with their own trials and tribulations and remind all that, even in the darkest of times, the human spirit endures.
Media/Press Kit and Other Items
