The images above represent a collaborative spirit that is trying to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at the World Trade Center. On the left is a view of the South Memorial from Liberty Street. Elements of the Twin Towers are worked into the 6-story facade, with the new Tower One in the background, giving visual testimony to resurgence and renewal. The flags represent every country that lost a citizen at the World Trade Center. The image on the right is part of the elegant vision of the WORLD MEMORIAL built into the same relic. In contrast to the official 9/11 Memorial, Both efforts reflect a great deal of 9/11 Families’ consultation and support. Also setting them apart, both memorials have broad public support.

We believe, as do many others, that the most powerful and healing memorial at Ground Zero would be the return of the Twin Towers. If necessary, we have said that the Twin Towers can and should rise beside the currently planned memorial and transit hub. But that is certainly not necessary at this point. The current memorial is both exorbitantly costly and environmentally backward. The cost of circulating and heating the running water alone makes any claims to the site being "green" a fallacy. It could quite possibly become the only memorial in the country requiring admission. It does not seem to be sustainable and it is sadly generic.

The image to the right shows 3000 crystals worked into the surviving wall would refract high above the south footprint and paint a rainbow of color and hope on the Memorial Mall. In the combined vision, the Koenig Sphere would be triumphantly restored to its historic place. The Golden Man and the reflecting pool pictured above would be moved to the North Memorial. The flags of the nations that lost citizens would encompass both Memorials, while the gleaming 20-ft. Golden Man sculpture, representing the hope of an elevated mankind would make the vantage from the highway powerfully inspiring. Contrast that with the current vision of nothing but trees.

The presence of the orchestral bells of the world's largest carillon, 120 bells ascending the surviving monolith in the South Memorial, would give the victims a voice as they sound to mark the hours and remind us that time is fleeting. That would be a key to converting a place of death into a place of life. It would convey the message that 9/11 brought home so powerfully – live mindfully and live heartfully. Public concerts with two pianists playing the the bells have been anonymously underwritten and would become signature worldwide events. The bell at the base would only be rung once a year by someone who lost a loved one to the mindless, heartless attack on 9/11.

Between the two memorials would be the September 12th Unity Garden, where visitors could reflect on the nobility and unity so apparent on September 12th, a spirit which was American to the core. It is the essence of what can redeem the bleakest darkness of 9/11 by channeling it into bright possibility. Everyone, even the most cynical among us, remembers the generosity of spirit that joined together bitterly divided factions after 9/11. The spirit of September 12th is transformative and will foster an appreciation for what is required of us. The message: We Finally Get It and United We Stand Against the Enemies of Freedom.

Bridging the two footprints would be a graceful bridge over the Peace Plaza with the words of Sir Isaac Newton engraved on the treads "Men build too many walls and not enough bridges." It would be symbolic of all the bridges that we need to build and reinforce, but above all, it would bridge this world and the next – linking the hearts of those who were taken with those who must carry on. On the East side of the Garden of Unity would be a tribute to the heroic First Responders with a sculpture of the iconic picture of the three firefighters raising the flag, an Eternal Flame, and the names of those who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.

To paraphrase a rabbi at the Yankee Stadium Prayer Vigil on September 23, 2001: “Three thousand people didn't die that day, one person died three thousand times. Three thousand universes were lost to us.” Most of us do not want to wallow in the depravity of 9/11 or to reflect on the absence of those who were murdered, but instead to sense their presence and to rededicate our nation to the uplifting Spirit of September 12th – sure that the only way to redeem the unbearable tragedy of that dreadful day is to build a better country in their honor. The peace and the hope to be found is in the vivid memories of the days after 9/11 when we were truly one.