Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

ARLINGTON, Va. -- A Virginia man is honoring the memory of the wife he lost in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, but he won't be at the Pentagon Memorial Thursday.

Abraham Scott's wife, Janice, the mother of Scott's two daughters, had worked at the Pentagon since the late '80s. About a month before 9/11, the U.S. Army budget analyst's office she worked in was moved just yards away from where Flight 77 would crash.

Janice Scott's remains were identified early in October 2001, and she was buried at Arlington National Cemetery the day after Thanksgiving that year.

Abe Scott said he is spending the rest of his life honoring his wife. He started a scholarship in her name and joined the board of directors of the Pentagon Memorial. The group raised millions for the memorial park and oversaw the plans -- 184 individual tributes made from steel and gravel with a victim's name inscribed on each bench.

Scott is protesting the monument, though. He said he quit the board because it wanted to put President George W. Bush's name on the credit stone and he believes credit for the monument should only go to the victims, their families and contributors, not politicians.

Scott said he'll continue to keep his wife's memory alive by raising more money for the scholarship fund, contributing at church and making sure their new granddaughter knows what her grandmother was like.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

I don't know. I'd need more info. What part did Bush play, if any, in planning the memorial? My initial reaction is to agree with this man, but isn't it customary on any memorial to put the name of the executive? As in, city memorials with the mayor's name, etc.

I know I will get flamed, but I think overall the 9/11 victims families are just too vocal, too involved, etc. They fight endlessly over everything. None of it is going to bring their family members back. I know they died in a huge national tragedy in an unexpected and brutal way, but everyone in the world has to mourn the loss of loved ones. It's time to just complete the memorials, in any case these people will best be remembered by the people who love them, not by people who will pass a monument, and whether or not George Bush's name is on it (or the exact location and details as in the nYC memorial) doesn't change any of those memories or mitigate the tragedy and pain they feel.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

I tend to agree with the husband and with Jennifer.

A few years ago there was debate over what they would put in the 'Freedom Center' that was meant to be built on the site of the towers in New York. One of the possible tenants was the Drawing Center, which would have a gallery space for artists exhibitions. The advisory group that was made up of the families of victims wanted to be able to have a say in the content of the art that was to be exhibited, lest it be inappropriate or offensive. I just think that's totally taking it too far - they were basically condoning censorship because of the location - a building called the FREEDOM Center!

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

My inital thought is to side with the husband. Unless GW played a major role in getting this memorial to happen, I don't see why his name needs to go on it.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

i also don't think any politician's name needs to be on the monument based on what that article is saying. i don't care if it was bush or anyone else---only the victims should be named.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

are they putting the president's name on there because he was the president at the time of the attacks? or are they putting it b/c he helped in some way either financially or in another way?

i'm confused - i would need more info.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

I don't think ANY politicians names should be on there. If it's a memorial then it should list the victims only. I hate hate hate the fact that politicians (one in particular- :cough: Rudy :cough:) continue to capitilize off of such tragic events. Bush's name does not need to be on there for any reason, this having nothing to do with my feelings about him, it should be victims only.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

I agree with him, it shouldn't have any politicians names on it.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)

If its a memorial, its about the victims. Even if Bush paid for it or pushed to get it done or built the bench himself, its not about him. Its about the victims. And ONLY the victims should be named.

Message edited 9/10/2008 1:26:28 PM.

Re: Husband Of 9/11 Victim Protests Pentagon Memorial Park (Your thoughts)