GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – For years Green Bay’s 9-11 memorial has stood on the Fox River, right next to the Neville Public Museum.
The towers are being torn down, and parks director Dick Ditscheit tells FOX 11 the city has already started.
“The granite pieces have already been removed and we are in the process right now of removing the two towers on the footing.”
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt tells FOX 11 something had to be done.
“It was embarrassing. It was not respectful to the people that gave their lives, it wasn’t a respectful way to honor that very important day.”
Just over a year ago the Green Bay city council allowed a fundraiser to repair the memorial. But Schmitt says so far, that fund hasn’t seen a dime.
“They raised zero. Not even ten dollars, zero.”
Costs to repair the memorial were estimated at around $100,000. Ditscheit said it will be cheaper to tear down.
“We’re assuming maybe between 20 or 30 thousand to remove it but that’s just a ballpark at this point.”
City leaders will decide where that money comes from. They’re also talking about a possible replacement.
“With all the people who were touched by that day I think we should design something that works,” said Schmitt.
The city’s art commission is already working on that design.
Schmitt says whatever replaces the old memorial should honor those who died on 9-11 in a more respectful way.
“I think we can do something very special in Green Bay and I think it’s going to take a little bit of time. But the first step was in removing what wasn’t right and now working on something that is right.”
On June 1, 2005, the memorial was dedicated. It was donated to the city and it featured a piece of steel from the Twin Towers. Over the years, the memorial began to deteriorate.
On Monday, the city decided to tear the monument down.
