STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
GEORGE E. PATAKI, GOVERNOR
Press Office
212-681-4640
518-474-8418
www.state.ny.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, December 20, 2002

SCULPTURE MEMORIALS MADE FROM STEEL RECOVERED FROM WTC SITE AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS' FAMILIES IN REMEMBRANCE OF LOVED ONES
Memorials are available by Contacting the Gift of New York at 1-800-528-1499 or www.thegiftofnewyork.com.

Governor George E. Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced they have sent letters to the families of the victims of the September 11th tragedy to let them know that sculpture memorials made from steel recovered from the World Trade Center are now are available to them in remembrance of their loved ones.

The memorials are available by contacting The Gift of New York at 1-800-528-1499 or www.thegiftofnewyork.com. The letter sent by the Governor and Mayor, and a picture of the sculpture are attached.

Governor George E. Pataki, said, "The Gift of New York, Sculptor Bryan Hunt, retired firefighter and family member Lee Ielpi, Howard P. Milstein, Signs and Decals Corporation, the Port Authority and Christy Ferer, the Mayor's Liasion to the Families, among many, many others, have donated time, talent and money to make this possible. The strength and the resilience of the people of New York is truly our greatest strength, and I am proud that, yet again, we've come together to remember those we lost on that horrific day."

World renown sculptor Bryan Hunt created a cast concrete form that holds a rectangular fragment of 3/4" steel from the World Trade Center site. Hunt, who lives and works in Tribeca, has been to the site many times. "For some of us, this tragedy literally happened in our back yards, and obviously it will never be the same place. There is a gapeing whole of sadness in the landscape. In time it will rise again."

Hunt describes his work by saying, "I wanted the torch-cut steel fragment to be accessible, to be able to be touched and held, giving one the opportunity to feel its weight, its density, its reality, to be shared and passed on through time."

Retired Firefighter Lee Ielpi, who lost his firefighter son Jonathan in the September 11th disaster, enlisted other fire department workers to help cut the steel. Ielpi also enlisted Signs and Decal Corporation of Brooklyn, New York to produce the sculptures at cost. The firm usually makes signs for airports and terminals.

The company owner, Babu Khalfan, who immigrated 30 years ago from Madagascar, says,"I was very fortunate that American people helped put me in business. I started with donated space given to me by a generous landlord in Long Island City. This is a way for me to give back to the city of New York that has been so good to me and my family."

Howard P. Milstein also made a generous donation to the project, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey donated tons of steel, and will also donate the shipping of these sculptures to the families. Christy Ferer, the Mayor's liaison to the families, played an integral role in putting the project together.

The letter is below.

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December 20, 2002

Dear Family Member:

We hope that this letter finds you well. To honor those who were lost on September 11, 2001, artist Brian Hunt has created individual memorials from pieces of recovered steel from the World Trade Center. Enclosed is a color printout of the memorial. If your family would like to receive one of the memorials in remembrance of your loved one, please contact The Gift of New York at 1-800-528-1499 or www.thegiftofnewyork.com.

We would like to thank the Milstein Foundation, the New York City Fire Department and the Signs & Decals Corporation, whose generous support helped make this possible.

On behalf of the City of New York, the State of New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, our thoughts are with you and your family during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Governor George E. Pataki

Mayor Michael Bloomberg