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A modest proposal from Hawaii

By the students at Kihei High School
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, November 9, 2001

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We, the students of Kihei High School, respectfully come to you with a proposal. Being so far away from the tragedies that occurred on September eleventh, we struggle to find a way to make a difference, a way to help the nation recover from the shattering blow it has been dealt. All of America wants to be a part of this, to share the burden of those suffering and to remember the value of those lives lost.

Having read the news, we have observed that Americans have flown all the way across the country just to stand next to what remains of the Trade Center, to simply bottle a piece of the soil it once sat upon. People are striving to find a way to somehow connect to this tragedy.

More than 200,000 tons of steel were used in the construction of the twin towers, now lying in ruins. It has been proposed many times to use this very steel in creating a monument commemorating the lives lost in this national tragedy. The students of Kihei High School have approached this idea from a different angle. We propose to start a grassroots movement to have the United States Treasury mint a coin (such as a penny, nickel or dime) using the steel from the New York Trade Center rubble. What better tribute to the men and women who worked at the World Trade Center, the symbol of the American economy, than to create a coin in remembrance of these people, making it a part of that same economy.

Through the creation and circulation of this coin, we would be making accessible to the entire nation a monument in remembrance of the blood, sweat, and tears, the courage and fortitude of not only those victimized by hatred, but also those of the heroes who sacrificed their lives in attempt to save the lives of others.

We believe that it is also important to create a monument on the site as a historical reminder of the loss of life and as a testament to the American spirit. Unfortunately not all concerned citizens will have access to this type of stationary memorial. Not only will the production of a monetary memorial allow every individual to carry a reminder of this historical event, but it will also aide in stimulating confidence in the American economy, and show the world that the people of the United States of America stand together, firmly resolved to protect all of humanity's right to security and a prosperous future. We will rise from the ashes of this great tragedy, united as a nation.

We appreciate your consideration on this matter and hope that we have won your support in making this proposal a reality.

The Students of Kihei High School
Kihei High School
131 South Kihei Road
Kihei, HI 96753
(808) 875-0700


E-mail Nicholas Giaconi at nick@hgea.org.

Other contact persons: Cristofer Giaconi, Jana Kirby, Joshua McConnell

808-875-0700 school message
808-879-5288 resource lab


See related article in the Christian Science Monitor:

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