The Fifteen Year Anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 will be commemorated September 11, 2016. In the years since 2001, memorials have been built to honor the lives lost, sacrifices made, and acts of heroism displayed. As the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in lower Manhattan continues to highlight the significance of the attacks while presenting stories of loss and recovery. Located at the World Trade Center site, reflecting pools sit within the footprints where the original architectural masterpieces of New York’s skyline once stood.

“United By Hope”

In an ongoing effort to honor the memory of those impacted, C. Forbes, Inc. has designed the third in a series of commemorative coins. This antique brass coin features the Twin Towers on the front, as they stood on 9.11.01, while the reverse side depicts the layout of the grounds of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as they appear fifteen years later.

The coin is packaged in a custom, tri-fold presentation box that allows for descriptive text on the inner flap, and conveys the message of “United by Hope” on the spine of the box.

We are proud to continue our partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the addition of this coin to our collection of commemorative products carries forward our commitment to honor the ideal of American resilience. Many of these items are available at the 9/11 Memorial Museum Store.

“United in Memory” Worth a Thousand Words

Shortly after the attacks on 9/11, C. Forbes, Inc. was approached by the Secretary of Defense – Office of Protocol to assist in the design and execution of a lapel pin for the Pentagon ceremony held one month later. Following the ceremony, conversations turned to the design of a custom “United in Memory” challenge coin. After much deliberation, a decision was made to reproduce the image of the firefighters and rescue workers draping the U.S. flag over the side of the Pentagon. In this case, a photograph was worth much more than a thousand words.

During the construction of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, C. Forbes, Inc. was contacted about donating the “United in Memory” medallion, challenge coin and lapel pin to the museum’s collection. These official “United in Memory” items are now included in the permanent collections of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Pentagon and the Smithsonian Institution.

The Survivor Tree Stands Tall

In 2015, we were honored to design a commemorative coin recognizing the fourteen year anniversary of 9/11, which features the Survivor Tree. The “Survivor Tree”, as it has come to be known, is a Callery Pear that was discovered in the rubble of Ground Zero. Although severely damaged, the tree was nursed back to health and now stands proudly on the Memorial Plaza as a symbol of strength and renewal.

Commemorations Across the Country

Two additional locations, in particular, will mark the Fifteen Year Anniversary. Managed by the National Park Service, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. includes an outdoor platform offering a commanding view of the crash site in a remote field, while the visitor center uses photos and artifacts to further tell the story of courageous actions taken by passengers aboard Flight 93. Those actions prevented further devastation by thwarting the plane’s flight path toward Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., damage to the Pentagon was the first significant foreign attack on governmental facilities since the city was burned by the British during the War of 1812. Headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, renovation of the Pentagon was already underway at the time of the attacks, and the unoccupied offices resulted in fewer casualties, but the lives lost will be remembered.

A Strong Country Moves Forward

It has been fifteen years since the world witnessed events that changed the course of our nation’s history. From large cities to small towns, urban sprawl to rural countryside, communities shared in the collective shock and grief that was our new reality. First responders- fire, police, and medical personnel- rose to the occasion with unparalleled acts of bravery and selflessness. Volunteers arrived from across the country. Strangers helped each other cope with the tragedy. As President George W. Bush stated in his address to the nation, “these acts of murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.”

Please contact us for more information about our products and customization process. Our mission is to design, produce and present quality, custom items that tell your story. We welcome the opportunity to combine your goals with our expertise to properly commemorate your unique anniversary, event or organization.

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