A few of them lingered for just a moment longer, standing near the benches bearing the names of loved ones killed on Sept. 11, 2001 — remembering, two years later, as others went about the business of the day.
Montgomery County dedicated its memorial to the 11 county residents who died on Sept. 11. “I see it as a place that I will come and read, come and somewhat feel a connection,” said Potomac resident Carole Reuben. Reuben’s son Todd was on American Airlines flight 77, the plane out of Dulles airport which was crashed into the west side of the Pentagon at 9:43 a.m.
“This is a wonderful tribute,” Reuben said.
Eleven benches made of wood and steel ring a small park next to the Red Brick Courthouse in Rockville. Each bench is inscribed with the signature of a county resident who died on Sept. 11 and a quote selected by that victim’s family.
A small pavilion rests in one corner of the park with a plaque bearing all 11 names. A solar lens in the roof of the pavilion will briefly focus sunlight on each of the names in turn on Sept. 11 from approximately 9:30-11 a.m.
The ceremony began shortly after that last name had been illuminated. “The sun in this memorial will allow us to remember how they brought light into our lives,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-8).
“Our hearts still hurt from the loss,” said County Councilmember Phil Andrews (D-3). Andrews pointed out that this was the second bloodiest day in U.S. history, after the Civil War battle of Antietam. “This reminds us of the fragility of life,” he said.
Last to speak was Julia Caswell Daitch. Daitch’s brother was one of the victims, and she led the committee which developed the memorial. “We came into the process completely broken and shattered,” she said.
Daitch explained one of the goals of the monument. “We will be able to look at the loss of an individual rather than the enormity of the entire tragedy.”
Daitch drew attention to the eclectic range of quotes chosen by the different families. “In some sense, we got to know a little more about each person,” she said. “Perhaps we can even imagine them, again.”
After the speeches, County Executive Doug Duncan (D) walked to each of the benches and presented family members with a rose which they laid on their loved one’s bench. At two benches, no relatives were present, and Duncan laid the roses himself.
Reuben thinks she will use Todd Reuben’s bench almost exclusively. The quote their family selected, lyrics from one of her son’s favorite songs, presented difficulties, since it is copyrighted material. “We had to sign and say this was all we were going to use them for,” she said.
Keith Reuben, Todd Reuben’s brother, plans to visit the memorial several times a year. “There’s a silver lining in every cloud,” he said. “This helps bring people together.”