NEW YORK – Officials in New York have decided to dismantle the wall jutting above the ruins of the World Trade Center, but will preserve it for a possible memorial.
Mayor Rudoloph Giuliani says the wall in the number two tower will be brought down. The steel mesh wall is the largest part of the complex that is still standing and has been widely seen in news photographs around the world.
Demolition of the wall, Mr. Giuliani says, will allow recovery workers to operate more efficiently in a safer environment. However, the mayor told reporters the wall will be preserved.
“We will preserve as much of that wall as possible because there are people who have expressed an interest in doing a memorial that would involve reconstructing some or part of that wall,” the mayor said. ” I do not know if that will eventually be the decision that is made but please understand that when it comes down it is going to be preserved.”
There have been numerous proposals for a memorial to honor the victims of the terror attack on the World Trade Center. However, it’s expected to take many months before any final decision on the nature of the memorial is made.
In the meantime, recovery work continues. Mayor Giuliani is still not willing to totally abandon hope that someone might still be alive in the rubble. However, he thinks it is realistic that relatives of the victims are being offered the opportunity to obtain a death certificate for their loved ones even though their bodies may never be found.
