brett benka natasha nicholson cara osborne how to get a memorial constructed

8/3/2019 Brett Benka Natasha Nicholson Cara Osborne How to Get a Memorial Constructed

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Brett Benka

Cara Osborne

Natasha Nicholson

Funding strategies for Lower Ninth Ward

Memorial

Purpose: To provide a plan to fund a memorial and get it legally built.

Vision Statement: We hope that by doing this research it will help give an identity to the people of the

Lower Ninth Ward. This will be accomplished by bringing an engaging symbol of community identity. This

memorial will also bring tourists to the Lower Ninth Ward. This memorial will potentially create an economy

for local residents.

Operational Plan: The first course of action would involve local planning with town meetings. There they

will discuss what they feel is the best for the community and also discuss visions about the design (step 1) and

also the building process (step 2). Also a site must be picked (step 3). The next step is laying out a financial

plan and funding for the memorial (step 4). Legal restraints will be researched. Lastly a plan will be created

for the maintenance of this site(s) (step 5). After this an architect and contractor will be chosen. These

professionals will carry out the construction of memorial.

Action Plan: This is where we want to discuss strengths and weaknesses for the construction of the

memorial.

Strengths: This memorial will give an identity and create pride for the people of the Lower Ninth

Ward. Furthermore it will engage the community. Lastly the memorial provides a chance to

strengthen the local economy because of increase in tourism.

Weaknesses: A weakness of building this memorial is that there will be no direct financial payoff.

Also there could never be a universal approval of the memorial design.

Political Process: The first thing that needs to be done is get a building permit. The next step is to identify

zoning constraints. We need to make sure that it is up to date with the ADA standards. Fire codes must also

be met. Possible consultation of the Army Core of Engineers might be needed.

Financial Plan: The Financial Plan will help aid the citizens in their efforts to finance the construction of a

Memorial project. This can be broken up 3 segments:


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1. Provide the General Cost for the memorial designs. This will include estimates for labor,materials, and land.

2. A financing/construction plan. This will include ideas on how to break the construction up intoaffordable phases if it can not be immediately financed in full. For each provided design we will

provide suggestions as to how to divide the process.

3. Examine available grants and funding option. Many grants are available for construction of amemorial that involves different steps. There is also an opportunity to present the memorial

designs to special interest groups and create a proposition as to why they should invest in the

project. We will provide examples of successful grant applications and tips for writing a

proposition to special interest groups to increase chance of acceptance.

Other Processes Plan: Many memorials have been built for different organizations with varying degrees of

success. We will examine various case studies of different sites and discuss maintenance responsibilities, their

origin (design competition, community driven, etc) and other general information on memorials to ensure it is

properly maintained and utilized to its full advantage.


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Introduction:

Bringing a memorial from an idea to reality is a complex process. A review of relevant literature is

needed to understand how this process has been executed in the past. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial was

funded largely by increasing taxpayer funding. Other projects, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial,are being funded primarily by private donors and corporations such as the National Basketball Association

and the television station BET. Nearly all other major memorials are funded through these two methods:

Federal funding or donations from wealthy patrons or corporations. Because these financiers are funding the

project, they also have a voice in the construction process. The methodology of a project like this includes

the identification of philosophical rationale. This means that we need to identify who we are building the

memorial for and why. Interview, observations, and documentation have led us to this identification.

Analysis of problems, benefits, and weaknesses with the proposed project would be the last step of

methodology. Finally, outcomes must be suggested to envision the effects of the memorial. Personal

narratives must be examined to see why this project is significant on a human scale. The combination of

these steps is the necessary way to analyze who to build a memorial for and for what purposes.

Reviewing the Literature

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: A Decade of Increasing Taxpayer

Funding.

1. Design and Building Process Created by an Act of Congress in 1980, the Museum describes its design and primary mission as "to

advance and distribute knowledge about this extraordinary tragedy; to preserve the memory of those

who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by

the events of the Holocaust as well as their own responsibilities as citizens of a democracy."

2. Site The museum was built on land donated by the federal government.3. Funding It was built with funding from more than 200,000 private donations ... On Oct. 12, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed legislation granting the museum permanent status as

a federal agency. "Permanent status permits Congress to provide funding without having to review

the federal role."

It's not only the legislative branch that supports the Holocaust Memorial Museum. On Sept. 3 the


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Anti-Defamation League announced that it had been awarded a $100,000 grant from the U.S.

Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to support a joint

ADL/Holocaust Memorial Museum training program for law enforcement professionals

4. Maintenance U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., a public-private partnership that relies heavily on

federal money. The Federal Government National Park Agency supplies about 56 percent of the

Holocaust Museum's $90 million annual budget. But it also has oversight. The museum is controlled

by a panel whose members are appointed by the president, its financial books are open to the public

and its staff includes federal employees whose salaries are set by pay scales.

McMahon, Janet. "The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: A Decade Of Increasing Taxpayer Funding."Washington Report On Middle East Affairs 22.10 (2003): 9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.

Concerns over 9/11 Memorial funding

1. Design and Building Process The memorial in an 8-acre plaza with two large reflecting pools in the footprints of the original

towers, in September on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

2. Site The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey own the actual land the memorial is built on. It is on the site where the Twin Towers used to stand.3. Funding About $400 million of the $650 million used to construct the memorial and museum came from

private donations, the rest from the federal government.

Admission is free. The museum, which is being built under the memorial, will open next year andvisitors will be charged a fee.

4. Maintenance The 9/11 Memorial is run by the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade

Center Foundation, a tax-exempt organization. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg heads its

board of directors. These Non-profit organizations maintain full control over the operations of the

memorial and museum.

Supporters say the federal money is needed to ensure the site of a national tragedy does not fall intopoor shape decades from now, when private fund raising will get more difficult.

300 full-time employees work at the memorial. It has a $60 million annual budget. 5 million visitors


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are expected each year and with the opening of the museum, it is expected to draw in another 2.5

million people.

Boburg, Shawn. "Concerns over 9/11 Memorial Funding - NorthJersey.com." Editorial.NorthJersey.com: LocalNews, Breaking News, Sports, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Sussex, Classifieds, Real Estate, Traffic & Weather.Web. 01 Dec. 2011..

Vietnam War Memorial

1. Design and Building Process The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was founded by Jan Scruggs, who served in Vietnam (in the 199th

Light Infantry Brigade) from 1969-1970 as an infantry corporal. He wanted the memorial to

acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of all who served in Vietnam. There were four criteria for the design:

o 1. Be reflective and contemplative in character2. Harmonize with its surroundings

3. Contain the names of those who had died in the conflict or who were still missing

4. Make no political statement about the war

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) announced in October 1980, that the Memorial's designwould be selected through a national design competition open to any U.S. citizen 18 years of age or

older. The jury selected a design that clearly met the spirit and formal requirements of the program.

They felt its open nature would encourage access on all occasions, at all hours, without barriers, and

yet free the visitors from the noise and traffic of the surrounding city.

The designer wanted to create a park within a park - a quiet protected place onto itself, yetharmonious with the overall plan of Constitution Gardens. The walls have a mirror-like surface

(polished black granite) reflecting the images of the surrounding trees, lawns, monuments, and

visitors. The walls seem to stretch into the distance, directing us towards the Washington Monument,

in the east, and the Lincoln Memorial, to the west, thus bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial into a

historical context.

The Memorial (wall) was completed in late October and dedicated on November 13, 1982, followedby a week- long salute to Vietnam veterans.

The walls and landscaping were completed by November 1, 1982. On November 11, 1984, all threeunits (the wall, the statue, and the flag) were combined.

2. Site


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On July 1, 1980, in the Rose Garden, President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation (P.L. 96-297) toprovide a site in Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial. It was a three and half year task to

build the memorial and to orchestrate a celebration to salute those who served in Vietnam.

On March 11, 1982, the design and plans received final Federal approval, and work at the site wasbegun on March 16, 1982. Groundbreaking took place on March 26, 1982.

3. Funding The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), a nonprofit charitable organization, was

incorporated on April 27, 1979, by a group of Vietnam veterans.

The VVMF raised nearly $9,000,000 entirely through private contributions from corporations,foundations, unions, veterans and civic organizations and more than 275,000 individual Americans.

No Federal funds were needed.

4. Maintenance The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) officially transferred control of the Memorial

to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and it became a national monument.

"Vietnam War Memorial." The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. .

The Washington Monument

1. Design and Building Process

Built between 1848-1884 Tribute to George Washingtons military leadership during the American Revolution Construction done in two major phases because of lack of funds, political turmoil and uncertainty

about the survival of the American Union

Design- neoclassical plan, which provided for a nearly flat topped column surrounded by a circularcolonnade on which would stand a statue of Washington in a chariot. Inside the colonnade, statues

of thirty prominent Revolutionary War heroes would be displayed.

Fourth of July ceremony in 1848, the cornerstone was laid Lt.Col.Thomas, L.Casey, Mills' successor, resumed work on the project in 1876, he heavily altered the

original design for the monument so that it resembled an bare Egyptian column with a pointed

pyramidion.

2. Funding Delay due to the lack of funds and the illegal election, which placed the Washington National


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Monument Society in the hands of the Know-Nothings political party. The Know-Nothings returned

all records to the original society in 1858, but still little was accomplished with the small amount of

funding they had

The outbreak of Civil War of 1861 worsened the society's difficulties with fund-raising efforts. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of the War Department was charged with completing the

construction, and the monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, and officially opened to the

public on October 9, 1888.

3. Maintenance In 1996, the Washington Monument Restoration Project was started with Target Stores joining the

National Park Service and the National Park Foundation to help restore this national treasure.

Guaranteeing $1 million, Target served as the lead sponsor working with the foundation to raiseawareness and an additional $4 million in donations from corporate partners.

"Washington Monument." U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. Web. 01 Dec. 2011..

Methodology

Assumptions: Philosophical RationaleAssume that the citizens of the Lower 9th Ward would like to have a memorial commemorating their losses

from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Assuming that there is no current interest in such a project from both

designers and parties with adequate funding we sought to provide a guide for beginning memorial

construction.

The designs of the memorials themselves have been catered to be more appealing to the residents ofthe Lower 9th Ward after our design presentations to residents. Comments and suggestions were

welcome at the presentations and all were taken into consideration in the design modifications for

the final project.

Research Methods (Way study was carried out)

Position of Researcher: All researchers were upper level architecture students at University ofWisconsin - Milwaukee in the Learning from New Orleans program, who realized the need for a

Hurricane Katrina memorial after an academic trip to New Orleans.


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Participants: The participants are residents of the Lower Ninth Ward both pre and post Katrinawho wish the commemorate the disaster. Participants should include members of community who

express an input, an architect/designer willing to work with community, contractor who will

accommodate available funding options, and a maintenance crew for upkeep.

Information/data gathering techniques Interviews: various interviews should focus on how the Lower Ninth Ward desires to

commemorate Hurricane Katrina. A key relationship should be between the Lower Ninth

Ward community members and the designer to produce a successful design.

Observations: The architect should acknowledge the different ways that Hurricane Katrinais still portrayed within the community today. An observation to be noted in the existing

memorial and how it is viewed by the residents.

Documents, Media, and Artifacts: Extensive weighing of pros and cons of differentprecedents should be taken into consideration as to what will be successful in the area.

Regarding the nature of the memorial design, inquiry should be taken as to name and artifact

portrayal. Resources should be utilized for the publicity of the memorial to collect funding

and tourism to bring people into the Lower Ninth Ward to help revive the areas economy.

Recording of Information: Interviews should be conducted and a summary shouldgenerate ideas to commemorate the victims for the greater good.

Analysis: Procedure for Distilling and Interpreting Information

Rigor: Research for this program was done by looking at memorials built previously. A lot can belearned from past projects and there flaws and achievements. The biggest issue was, of course, how

to continue the funding for memorials many years after they are constructed. Another issue is how

you insure that the voices of people are heard many years down the road. This is what some of the

national monuments are dealing with currently and something that the memorial for the Lower

Ninth Ward needs to address.

Limitations: pragmatic realities of investigationPrivate funding may not be a feasible option for this project. It may be difficult to find a designer

willing to work with community members on a design, and the community members themselves

may disagree on methods of remembrance.

Ethical Issues: maintain rights and privacy of participants and portray all affected in a positive andaccurate way.


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Memorial Typology and Design Process(Steps 1 & 2)

Enclosure

Programs

Incremental/Processional

Representative

Memorial types can be broken up into four main themes: Enclosure, programs,

Incremental/processional, and Representative. Each of these can offer pros and cons to the Lower Ninth

Ward as well as cater to different design processes depending on the available amenities of the area.Throughout the different categories there are several components to be considered implementing in the

design:

1. Names of those affected. Most memorials opt to have a universal theme with a display of names.These can be etched in a wall, floor tiles, or sponsored masonry units by the victims families. They

are an excellent way to create a more intimate experience apart from the whole memorial visit.

2. Education of the disaster. By educating the affected citizens on the nature of the disaster, arealization and understanding of the events can ease the process of feeling unjust and cheated of loss.

By displaying information on the event it ensures the disaster will be remembered accurately over

time and contribute to the collective memory of the community.

3. Easy Access. The memorial should be in a site that is accessible for all affected and a spot that couldbe utilized for public events to aid in the memorialization of the event.

4. Community Involvement. Successful memorials incorporate the communitys desires for an accuraterepresentation of the disaster. If one is designed without input it could lead to misunderstanding and

continued anger at the disaster. For the design process it is crucial to find a designer willing to work

with the community groups and use skills to portray their vision of remembrance.

EnclosureOften memorials can serve adjacent purposes, such as acting as a memorial while educating people

about the disaster via the context of a museum. By educating people about the events that have occurred,

the effect of the disaster will continue to be present in the area over time, a standstill showing testament to

how the affected area has grown. Education of a disaster aids in the justification of its effects on the

community, helping to relieve the bitterness and residual emotions associated with the event. By being

educated on the subject, victims can arrive at understanding in their own terms. Often museums are a prime


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place to display what the effects of the disaster were on ordinary objects to provide relics to relate to over

time, creating memory even for those not affected.

This is seen in the National September 11 Memorial Museum. This precedent utilizes several tactics

to employ the greatest success. By commemorating the lives of every victim from the attacks on the WorldTrade Centers of 1993 and 2011, all

survivors have opportunity to reflect

on individual lost ones. The museum

also has many modern educational

displays of the events and acquired

artifacts. Both of these successful

characteristics could be translated

into methods that could aid in proper

memorialization of the Lower 9th

Ward and all hurricanes that have

affected the area.

Programs

A program method of memorializing an event is a way to keep the community united through a

disaster and aid in the respective recovery process. By not having a stand still memorial, the community is

required to interact to achieve a method of progressive memorialization. Various types of program based

memorial practices can be implemented such as a sale of a significant good; such as selling candles for anannual ceremony, or an event; such as a run/walk or charity concert. The program typology can be utilized

as a predecesor for another memorial via profitable sales, or work with the Incremental typology to involve

the community in a memorial of permenance.

This can be seen in the Candle

Vigil of the Bonfire Memorial for Texas

A&M. In 1999, a traditional bonfire

got out of hand leaving several dead.

To commemorate, a candlelight vigilwas performed to safely remember

events. As additional funds off of the

candle sales accumulated, the profit was

given to the construction of the Bonfire

Memorial. To this day annual vigils are

held at the spot of the accident.


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Incremental

An Incremental memorial can offer a tremendous amount of versatility in its design. By designing a

memorial that is broken up into independent, yet complimentary segments it allows for great ranges ofconstruction time and development. The key to having a successful incremental design is to have the

increment piece be successful alone, with just the original surrounding context. This allows for increased

attraction and popularity each time an increment in installed, allowing the design to slowly reach out and

capture all affected citizens nationwide. This leads to opportunities for outside sponsorship on a segment to

aid in funding for the project as well as increase the organizations popularity with association to the memorial

A strong benefit to incremental development is the ability to involve the community in on smaller projects;

making it a true reflection of those partaking in the remembrance of the disaster.

A key creative example of an incremental project is the Heidlberg project in Michigan. The

Heidlberg project is an ongoing project (25

years+) that is growing in popularity. Itutilizes discarded items in a creative way that

reflects the community of Detroits East

Side. It is based on a premise of hope in the

community and making the best of what

they have available. Its growing popularity

has brought in various art education

programs, improving lives outside of just the

memorial experience. New Orleans is a

very artistic city with organizations with a

mission statement that would cater to the

goals of an incremental memorial, such asNew Orleans with Community Art Council.

The New Orleans Community Art Council also offers a grant administration program to help acquire

whatever funding is accurate.

Representative

A representative memorial is one with abstracted interpretations and symbolism of the

commemorated act. Most memorials have representative elements, most of which are not readily interpreted

without a present description. If done successfully, arepresentative memorial can become a new symbol for the effected

community and draw in outside interest via tourism. Tourism can

be catered to and bring in increased revenue to the area.

One of the most successful representative memorials to

date is the lighting portion of the 9/11 memorial. It serves as a

tasteful memorial that is well understood, yet does not reflect the


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negativity of transpired events. It is a simple idea which draws people in from surrounding areas to witness.

Sources:

http://community.ovationtv.com/_In-memory-of-911-Community-Art-/set/119454/16878.html

http://www.artscouncilofneworleans.org/article.php?story=about.whoweare

http://www.heidelberg.org/

Reynolds, Henry, Why Weren't We Told?, 1999, ISBN 0-14-027842-7, chapter 12: "Lest We Forget", pp.169-184

Site

(Step 3)

Choosing the site(s) for a memorial in the Lower Ninth Ward would be a practice of balancing positives andnegatives. No single site will be a perfect choice, as each potential location has its own pros and cons.

A Site Owned by Private Donors+Land owned by a private donor will have less building regulations to adhere to than if the site was owned bythe government.

-Finding a private land owner who is willing to donate his/her property to the construction of a memorial willmost likely be a difficult task. The owner may wish to have control over the design process and other aspects

of construction. As you are building on his/her land, you must comply with his/her requests.

A Site Owned by the Federal Government+Funding for construction would be provided by the government through tax dollars and other federal fundsif the project is built on government land. Protection of the land would be easier because there is no privateland owner to go through before legal action can be taken.

-The government is currently in a shortage of funds to give out for things that are strictly aesthetic. Youmust convince the government that this memorial will be an asset for the community and contribute to thesafety and wellness of the neighborhood.

Multiple Sites+If the memorial is a series of small monuments scattered throughout the neighborhood, there is anopportunity to buy individual lots and construct a portion of the memorial incrementally. The incrementalscheme works because funding is not always available and would allow the builders to construct wheneverthere is money to spare. It will also give people options to incorporate the memorial into processions (suchas second lines).


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A Single Site+A single site for a memorial would be easier to identify with as a landmark. It would also be easier to controlbecause there would be one owner and financier.

-A single site will often give the impression of something imposed by the state, especially if the memorial is

something large and monumental. There are less opportunities for community ownership and involvementwith a single site as well.

A Site by the Levee+Land near the levee offers unique opportunities for memorial design and has ample space for public use.

-This land is strictly controlled by the Federal government and the Army Core of Engineers. Obtainingpermission to build by the levee may prove to be difficult or impossible.

Funding(Step 4)

Funding for memorials and monuments is generally done in two forms, private nonprofit donations

and/or by the federal government. Most memorials require that both forms of funding be used but it is not

uncommon for all or most of the funding to be supplied by nonprofit organization(s).

Nonprofit donations must have all funds for planning, constructing and equipping the memorial,

raised exclusively from private, tax-deductible contributions. Donations can come from corporations,

foundations, unions, civic organizations and individuals. Specific organizations to Hurricane Katrina can be

created to provide and management of funds. For example, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is an

origination that was crated to obtain funds for construction. Not only was this organization designed for

financing but also for the maintenance of the site. The benefit of having nonprofit organization(s) build, run

and operate the memorial is that the government doesnt have a position in the development or the future of

the memorial.

Federal funding comes from American tax dollars to support the construction of memorials. Having

federal funding helps insure the preservation of the memorial in years to come, where nonprofit organizations

have a more unstable income and uncertain future. It is a possibility that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

could be given permission to construct the memorial for the Lower Ninth Ward under federal government

funding. If this memorial becomes a national monument then it can become under the protection of the

National Park Service of the U.S. Federal Government Department.


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Maintenance

(Step 5)

Maintaining the memorial in the Lower Ninth Ward would be directly associated with the site that the

memorial occupies. Each site will have its pros and cons for maintenance.

A Site Owned by Private Donors+The government cannot put restrictions on how to maintain the premises. If the owner is intent on keeping

up the land on which the memorial is built, he/she may have the property maintained to a very high degree.

This might be the case because the private land owner donated his/her money to the project and most likelywould not want to see it go to waste.

-The citizens of the neighborhood cannot complain to the government if the memorial is not kept up to their

standards. This is the case because the memorial technically belongs to the land owner and not the people.

A Site Owned by the Federal Government+The Federal government will provide proficient maintenance of their sites because people are paying for it

with their tax dollars. Tax payers can share their opinions with the government and it will look bad if the

authorities do not respond. The government never wants tax payers or citizens to be unhappy with it.

-Although the government has incentives to maintain its parks, it does not have as much incentive as a

private land owner might have. Tax dollars are taken involuntarily from citizens, whereas money would be

donated voluntarily by a private donor. Therefor a private donor would most likely take more pride and

ownership in the site.

Multiple Sites

+Having multiple sites would share the burden of maintenance. If the memorial is a series of smallmonuments scattered throughout the neighborhood, then the owner of each site would be responsible only

for his portion of the project.

-There may be a lack of continuity of maintenance between all the sites if each one is maintained by a

different owner.


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A Single Site+There would be easy accountability for the owner of the land if there is only one site to maintain.

-There cannot be a shared burden of maintaining the site.

A Site by the Levee+Maintenance of a site by the levee would make the government responsible. The Army Core of Engineers

does not let private land obstruct the land by the levee by any means.

-It may be viewed as intrusive to the levee to maintain a memorial so near to an asset of safety to the

community

Outcomes and Suggestions

Setting the Scene:

The Lower Ninth Ward is almost entirely composed of people who are African American.

(www.gnocdc.org) About 50%-75% of the residents who live in this neighborhood fall under the povertyline (www.gnocdc.org) . According to The Times Picayune Journals Risk Analysis, the Lower Ninth Ward

accumulated one of the highest death tolls in the entire city of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The

people of this area did not have a strong voice in the government at the national or even local level. Their

neighborhoods have been neglected in the New Orleans restoration process. After six years, the vast majority

of homes in the Lower Ninth Ward are still abandoned or gone completely. The grass rises to levels of eight

feet or more in lots that used to contain houses. Concrete stairs and foundations are the only physical

remnants of life on these lots. Going back to the time of Katrina, the residents were forgotten as well. As

the death tolls show, the least amount of effort was made to save these victims from rising flood waters. It is

a view of many of the citizens that the Lower Ninth Ward was forgotten even before Hurricane Katrina.

These factors contribute to the desire and need for a memorial to be built. This memorial would honor the

lives that were lost during Katrina, and also the lives of people who lost their homes and are unable to return.

Telling Local Narratives:

Valerie Schexnayder:


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One community member and asset to the rebuilding process is Valerie Schexnayder. Mrs.

Schexnayder had her home float away during Katrina. She fought a difficult battle with state and federal

governments to get money to rebuild her home. Mrs. Schexnayder fought until she got to U.S. House

Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi was able to get her a new house and obtain an additional $3 billion for

Louisianas rebuilding process. Mrs. Schexnayder has become an inspiration and a hero to many people,

including many of my fellow classmates and myself. When I met her, she emanated a sense of strength andpower along with genuine kindheartedness. That combination of character traits is rarely seen in everyday

people, but it must be common in leaders like Valerie. It is now a goal of this community leader to get a

proper memorial built for the victims of Katrina, who were her friends and neighbors. She describes that the

existing memorial, built in the middle of a median, is confusing to anyone who does not know the architects

intentions. She would like to see a structure that memorializes the names of the victims. Mrs. Schexnayder

points out that nearby St. Bernard Parish has a memorial that commemorates the names of the lost lives of

Katrina. Since residents of the Lower Ninth Ward have seen themselves as neglected by government funding

efforts, the lack of the desired memorial would be another reason to feel forgotten.


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Robert Green:

Nobody understands the personal hardship Hurricane Katrina brought more than Mr. Robert Green.

This man and community leader lost both his mother, Joyce Green, and his granddaughter, Shanai (Nai Nai)

Green, in the storm. After being relocated to Baton Rouge for a short time, Mr. Green has returned to a

newly built house in the Lower Ninth Ward. On August 29,2006, The Green Family scrambled to the roof

of their house, which had been in their family for 38 years. The ensuing hours and days would prove to besome of the most horrifying in Mr. Greens life. His granddaughter Shanai was swept off of the roof into the

floodwaters. Her body was recovered on October 25. Mr. Greens mother, who was wheel-chair bound,

died while waiting for help to arrive in the Lower Ninth Ward. Although he has suffered unimaginable

tragedy, Mr. Green maintains a positive attitude and is truly an example of strength. He has constructed a

small grave site in front of his home, but many others whose stories are similar to Mr. Greens have no

physical reminder of their lost loved ones. A thoughtful, community inspired memorial would enshrine the

names of Shanai, Joyce, and all of the other people who lost their lives in those terrifying days of Katrina.

Conclusion:

This research has shown us that funding and constructing a successful memorial entails a detailed

process. After the literature has been reviewed on the subject, it is clear that the memorial must be paid for

by federal grants/or donations from wealthy patrons and corporations. We conducted interviews and

observed the situation in person while on our New Orleans trip. After gathering information from readings

and from locals in the Lower Ninth Ward, we feel that the memorial should be built for the citizens and

according to their desires. The government, although they may fund part of the project, did not experience

the destruction of humanity that these people experienced. We hope that building a memorial in the Lower

Ninth Ward will help heal the wounds of Hurricane Katrina while preventing people from forgetting how the

wounds were created.