Next Milestone for Newton Centre Memorial Will Be
September Groundbreaking
Newton, MA—On July 26th, the City of Newton and the Newton 9-11 Memorial Committee executed an agreement for the siting, installation, and landscaping of the Newton 9-11 Memorial, which will honor the eight Newton residents killed by terrorists on September 11th, 2001. The contract, signed by Mayor Setti Warren, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bob DeRubeis, Fire Chief Bruce Proia, and Committee Chairman Sande Young, is a major milestone for the memorial; the Committee can now plan the memorial’s groundbreaking for this coming
September 11th.
Shortly after the contract was signed, the Committee chose Phil Mastroianni Corp. of Newton to build the memorial. Mr. Mastroianni is a Newton native whose tree and landscape business has operated here since 1976. His firm will prepare the site in front of Newton Fire Headquarters on Centre Street and install the pavers, benches, and pedestals of the outdoor room, bordered by perennial grasses, spring bulbs, and flowers. A small piece of World Trade Center steel has been donated by Newton resident Ellen Meyers to be included in the room.
“I am thrilled that we have steel from the Towers, a beautiful design, a supportive city, and now, a first-rate builder,” Young said. “If you knew how many generous, talented, and tenacious people were involved in getting us this far, you would
be amazed.”
Young first conceived of a tribute to those Newton lost when she read in March 2011 about a memorial built by Acton for its two 9-11 victims. She began assembling a committee in April and meeting with city officials. Fifteen months, countless conferences, and dozens of fundraisers later, the efforts of her committee are paying off.
All monies raised for the memorial have been private contributions. They range from coins collected in cans at Cabot’s Ice Cream to large donations from local businesses and residents. Young said that the Committee must, however, continue fundraising to ensure the proper yearly maintenance of the memorial. An ongoing funding source is the memorial brick program, whose bricks will pave the walkway leading from the Centre Street sidewalk up to the memorial.
“Our program provides a brick for $100 with up to 60 engraved characters that you customize,” explained Virginia Gardner, Director of Fundraising for the Committee. “The bricks, which have been a great fundraising tool for us, give residents and businesses a permanent part of this important city memorial.”
The Committee hopes that a groundbreaking will inspire more donations as residents see the memorial come to life. Depending in part on New England weather, the project could be finished by this November.
