Philippe de Montebello, the Director of the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, New York has emerged as one of the strongest supporters
of the idea that a monument should be created with the surviving
fragment of one wall of the World Trade Center. In his own words,
‘Though tilted slightly, it somehow survived, emerging from
the fire and smoke — inexplicably durable, still pointing to
the heavens and now a fitting, realistic and moving monument to
those who died there. Already an icon, it should stand forever as
a sculptural memorial, incorporated into whatever other structures
or landscapes are chosen’.
De Montebello cites Coventry Cathedral’s remnants from the
blitz as one example that has worked. He recognises that the Ground
Zero fragment may need to be dismantled first, but that consideration
should be duly given to ‘preserving and re-installing this
imposing vestige’. Indeed, it is imposing (if it still stands).
More authoritatively, de Montebello adds ‘a relic of destruction,
it could become a testament to renewal. As a symbol of survival,
it is already in its own way, a masterpiece, and so it should remain’.
The dynamic of the twisted fragment of wall, up to 14 storeys and
over 120 feet high, does indeed provide a powerful and moving frozen
image of the moment of collapse and consequent death of thousands
from the terrorist attack.
Amidst the clamour of many for various memorial solutions, such
as would embellish the now consecrated site, almost all are reconcilable
with de Montebello’s simple but utterly appropriate request
for the fragment to be preserved. Even the new construction of replacement
skyscrapers can work with this. What is important is that the proposals
are ratified without delay. A long, argued debate could not assist
more in the grieving process, than a clear and decisive enactment
of De Montebello’s proposal. Not only are the victims of this
holocaust being commemorated, but at the same time those amongst
their rescue workers, died and wounded, and the incredible courage
of those among the fire and rescue teams who survived themselves.
Dramatically, de Montebello’s fragment stands to commemorate
not only the office workers and service staff within the building,
but those who sought to rescue them, equally.
