EASTHAMPTON — The citywide group dedicated to creating a permanent memorial to honor the lives lost from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks is closing in on a location and design concept for such a monument in Easthampton.
On a public walking tour Monday, members of the 9/11 Tribute Committee guided several residents to the two locations being considered — one overlooking Nashawannuck Pond, and the other next to the Public Safety Complex.
While gathering at the Nashawannuck location, committee Chair Dillon Maxfield said, “One reason we like this location is, one, we already have a concrete pad here but the big reason is that it’s right here with the pond where we’ve been hanging the flag.”
The committee formed last July and has held three meetings to brainstorm ideas for a permanent tribute to honor those affected by the attacks on the twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the Flight 93 crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The loose concept design that committee members discussed after the tour is a stone monument with an inscribed design. Members are also considering a metal sculpture, but they are concerned that kind of structure could invite vandalism or theft of the metal.
Easthampton Veterans Agent Thomas Geryk estimates the cost to be roughly $10,000, based on similar project costs. Geryk said the committee also considered including an artifact from the attacks, but that is unlikely due to strict guidelines surrounding Sept. 11 artifact protections.
The American Legion Post 224 has agreed to manage a donation account for the project, Geryk said. The post has already donated $500 and encourages the public to contribute.
Committee member Dan Constantine of the Easthampton Fire Department said having a monument where people can look down and see the pond’s reflection would be a good idea. Constantine, who was working in Easthampton on Sept. 11, traveled to New York City after the attacks to provide aid along with other first responders in Easthampton and the region at large.
“It kind of goes into one of the themes that we’re really looking to incorporate in this monument, which is reflection,” Maxfield said about the pond location.
The committee formed after ongoing debate that started in November of 2024 about the American flag previously displayed over Nashawannuck. It was taken down by former Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who said it was not in compliance with the United States Flag Code.
Since the flag originally went up after the Sept. 11 attacks, it has been put up after Memorial Day and taken down after Veterans Day each year. Though it was never formally dedicated to honor those who lost their lives that day.
The other potential location is a grass patch on the west side of the Public Safety Complex, next to the Manhan Rail Trail.
“The reason this is the other spot here is every year, when the mayor does the speech for remembering 9/11, we typically do it here at the Public Safety Complex,” Maxfield said about the location.
Resident and now retired Easthampton firefighter Bill Simmons also suggested the small park as a location, just up the bike trail next to Tandem Bagel and across from the former Easthampton Fire House.
Whether the flag will remain over the pond, in conjunction with whatever monument is created, is currently undetermined, but it is a possibility the committee and other city groups are discussing.
The city does not have formal rules or guidelines to govern flag-flying on government property, city officials previously told the Gazette. The City Council Property Committee has been working to establish an ordinance to provide guidelines for hanging flags on public property.
The committee’s next meeting is on May 4 and members continue to welcome input from the public.
Donations for the monument can be mailed as a check to American Legion Post 224, P.O. Box 69, Easthampton, or dropped off at Easthampton Veterans’ Services located at the Senior Enrichment Center on 19 Union St., Easthampton.
