Barely lit by the early evening moon, the Rotary Club of Northern Guam last night unveiled its long-anticipated Peace Memorial, which is tucked away at Two Lovers' Point. The memorial came as part of the club's declaration of Guam as a peace island to the Rotary International, joining more than 100 other cities and islands that already have memorialized a dedication to peace.
With its design, the granite-and-concrete memorial also serves as a commemoration to the lives lost during the Sept. 11 terror attacks, said former club President Ed Cruz, who conceptualized the project.
The memorial took nearly a decade to complete and came a month after the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Emergency responders joined the business leaders, military personnel and island dignitaries present to witness the unveiling.
Built on government land, the memorial features two pillars erupting from the ground, representing the World Trade Center towers that fell in New York City. The black granite base features images of trees representing the Pennsylvania forest where one of the four commercial planes went down during the attacks. Two doves of peace surround an image of the Pentagon, also hit during the terrorist attacks.
"We stand here today to show forth our strength to ignite the fire of peace," Cruz said during his address to the audience. "We remember the lives lost on Sept. 11 and share in the chain of prayers and thoughts of goodwill that showed so spontaneously throughout the world."
The Two Lovers' Point's view of the ocean waters to the right and island's beauty to the left was the reason the location was chosen for the memorial, Cruz said.
"Being at that location gives you a sense of peace and appreciation for our island," Cruz said. "This park brings together the people of our island to promote lasting peace."
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