County memorial a fitting tribute

It is the right place, the right design, and it was handled in the right way. All of Monmouth County owes a debt of thanks to the Sept. 11 Memorial Committee for the exceptional job it did in putting together the county’s commemoration of the tragic day and the residents lost.

As Marlboro artist Franco Minervini, whose work is at the center of the memorial, noted, the final product is truly a design of the committee which thoughtfully pulled in the best elements of what was suggested to create a stirring memorial.

The committee members also deserve credit for understanding that their work extended beyond selecting a submitted concept, and their proposed redesign of the Mount Mitchell site should contribute to the important messages of the memorial.

As approved, the design incorporates all of the complex feelings and emotions of 9/11 and the ensuing days, and pays fitting tribute to the citizens of the county who lost their lives in the tragedy.

With the design complete, however, much important work remains to be done.

First and foremost, the county must determine how it is going to fund the memorial.

If public funding cannot completely cover those costs, a fund-raising plan needs to be formed, and the sooner the better.

Also, to the greatest degree possible, work should begin on Mount Mitchell at the earliest possible date to ensure that the memorial will be ready by its expected completion date of Sept. 11, 2004.

Finally, the county will have to commission the artist who will deliver on the vision it has for the memorial.

While the decision has not been made, Minervini, who has the skills to see his vision through to the end, would be an excellent choice.