A committee charged with creating a permanent memorial to the victims of the December 2 terrorist attack continues to work toward its goal.
The December 2nd Memorial Committee recently completed a review of several memorials from across the country, noting how, in nearly every instance, the sponsoring agency used a structured process to allow artists, architects and designers to submit proposals. The committee will discuss how to proceed when it reconvenes after the first of the year.
In February, Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos appointed Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales and Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux to assemble and lead a committee to conceive the memorial. The committee consists of representatives from public safety, the departments of Behavioral Health, Public Health and Real Estate Services, the County Administrative Office and, most importantly, representatives from the Environmental Health Services division and family members of the county employees who were taken from us on that day.
The committee has held several meetings to identify key points of consideration and to establish an overall vision for the memorial based on shared values. The committee has determined the memorial should recognize the broad diversity and lives of the victims as well as those who stepped up to preserve and protect life. The memorial will also provide enduring recognition of the county employees who witnessed the attack, many of whom were physically injured and all of whom were emotionally impacted. The committee believes the memorial should be a place for quiet reflection.
The committee is making it a point to put careful consideration into each aspect of the memorial process, understanding that memorials can take up to a decade to develop. As the first anniversary of this tragic event approaches, the committee members want the public to know that work is progressing in a thoughtful and inclusive manner. The process will take time, but the result will appropriately and eternally reflect the many important and unique people, stories, and lessons of December 2, 2015.