Eleven silver strands of light,
Eleven facets of a gleaming heart,
Eleven tears, forever falling, on
Eleven names in a tranquil pool.
While the government is still years away from constructing even the simplest memorial to the thousands who died on September 11, 2001, American Express has commissioned and constructed a work of art to honor the 11 AMEX employees killed in the terrorist attack.
Entitled 11 Tears, it occupies a lobby corner of American Express’ corporate headquarters at the World Financial Center. The work was designed by landscape architect Ken Smith, a native of Iowa who now lives and works in lower Manhattan. It “unites sky and ground, heaven and earth” and incorporates natural elements: water, light, quartz crystal and black granite. At the center is a 600 pound tear-shaped piece of Brazilian quartz, which was carved to have 11 sides, one for each victim.
The massive crystal is set into a stainless steel ring and suspended from the ceiling by 11 thin cables. Beneath the point of the upside-down tear is an 11 sided black granite pool; each side is inscribed with the name of an employee and a few words, selected by those who knew them best, to summarize the people they were.
At random intervals, 11 drops of water fall from the ceiling into the pool, creating intersecting ripples, “symbolizing the connections among the close-knit group of colleagues and friends.” The fountain is surrounded by benches of matching black granite.
Visitors sitting there and looking through the windows find themselves gazing directly at the site where the 11 died, working as American Express travel counselors on the 94th floor of One World Trade Center.
Lisa Kearney-Griffin 
Bridget Esposito
Benito Valentin
Yvonne Bonomo
Anne Talsky Ransom
Lucia Crifasi
Karen Renda
Paul T. Zois
Sigrid Wiswe
Loretta Ann Vero
Gennardy Boyarsky
Out the window is the World Trade Center
In Memoriam
Architect Ken Smith
September 13, 2006 at 9:13 am |
Wonderful memorial.
September 13, 2006 at 6:39 pm |
Thank you for posting this. It is amazing.
September 16, 2006 at 2:07 pm |
For some reason when I read this I thought of Margaret Mead’s quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Thank you for posting this. I am so glad to see these efforsts to memorialize the people who were lost, especially since our government has shamefully done nothing.
November 4, 2006 at 1:06 am |
This is a beautiful tribute to those people who worked for American Express. When I came with my daughter’s high school chorus in April, this memorial brought tears to all of us even though we didn’t know the people. THANK YOU for making this amazing memorial.
April 22, 2007 at 6:33 pm |
This is a beautiful memorial. I expected to see some sort of memorial for 9/11 at the ground zero site and was disappointed to see construction that appears to be going nowhere. I was saddened to see that nothing has been done for the thousands of Americans who died on that day but pleased that American Express has honored their 11 co workers. Congratualtions American Express.
September 10, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
Thank you for posting this. It is a wonderful memorial. I too was an American Express employee. I was about 25 blocks up from WTC. Our office had a wonderful view of the buildings. I was in my office on that dreadful day. I watched the 2nd plane go in and people jump out of the buildings. I watched them collapse. It was like being in movie. I suffered for six months after with flashbacks and nightmares. American Express took care of me and got me back on track for the most part. I have since moved away from the city and left the company. I am happy to see this website and the opportunity to share. God Bless my lost colleagues. You are gone, but never forgotten. I wear my red/white and blue ribbon every year on 911.
October 6, 2008 at 5:38 pm |
I am from Canada and had the priviledge and honor of seeing the Memorial at the Amercian Express Building last week while I visited NY for the first time. I was deeply touched by the memorial. May we never forget those who simply went to work that morning. My deepest sympanthies to the families who lost their loved ones. May this memorial remind you of how very special they were to you and to the American Express family. God Bless.
October 15, 2008 at 7:03 pm |
I was mesmerized by the memorial, reading the names and honoring these 11 individuals. It was only later that I realized there were random drops of water (tears) falling. I would love to incorporate this memory along with the poem into a dance.
October 21, 2008 at 8:41 am |
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December 14, 2008 at 9:09 am |
From France…..
few words to tell to Ken Smith how sensible is this memorial we discovered. It was difficult for us to leave it. A very noble and stiring translation for us coming from Europe. We’ll never forget …. for this NY we love.
September 11, 2009 at 11:24 am |
Thank you for posting this. My dearest friend Yvonne Bonomo and my other fellow Amex employees will live on in our hearts and minds forever. I was there for the unveiling of this memorial and am so proud to know that they will be forever remembered by this beautiful display.
December 23, 2009 at 4:53 am |
I know I’m late but I saw that on my last visit to NYC (I’m from Germany) and I have to say this is probably the greatest memorial one can ever have. So touching. I cried in the Visitor Center and I cried seeing this.