Panel nine - 9.11

The 9-11 panel features the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard coordinated closing the entire New York Harbor and participated in the evacuation of southern Manhattan. They evacuated over 500,000 people from Battery Park. In the months to follow, the Coast Guard conducted law enforcement boardings on high profile vessels (usually foreign flagged) in the New York Harbor and all vessels requesting emergency entry into the harbor.

This view features the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center towers after being hit by American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. There is a stark contrast of the clear blue sky and the pronounced column of smoke. The smoke is also symbolic of the invasion of the dark unknown into the calm and peaceful world that didn’t know the long and drawn out war that would begin in the aftermath.

The Statue of Liberty, much like George Washington in the first panel, is facing toward the future. She is looking onward toward freedom, signifying that liberty will prevail. Notice that the smoke from the Twin Towers flows into the final panel as a transition from that day into the Global War on Terror.

Special Artist Credit

Alyssa Lyons painted the cityscape. Her attention to detail added life to the buildings and made them unique. Shae painted the Statue of Liberty.

Insider Information

Post 150 Legionnaire and USCG retired Chief Warrant Officer Brett Ormsby was there that day as part of the crew on the Coast Guard Cutter Juniper, hull number 201. 

Inspiration

When Robert was teaching high school students, he realized that none of them were alive on September 11, 2001. They need to know what happened that day, and it’s our duty as American citizens to tell the stories with such detail that, even though the students weren’t there, they will never forget.

Relatable Fact

Post 150 Legionnaire Bill Lightner would come in to check the progress of the mural. When Alyssa was painting the ship, Bill was convinced it was moving!