Rise St. Pete Continues Raising Funds For Permanent 9/11 Memorial

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — With the approach of the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the nonprofit Rise St. Pete organization continued its quest to raise $1 million to create a one-of-a-kind memorial in the Warehouse Arts District.

The latest edition of the Whiskey and War Stories fundraising series took place Sept. 5 at the ArtsXchange Tully-Levine Gallery. In addition to an auction, the fundraiser featured guest speaker was Scott Neil, co-founder of the American Freedom Distillery based in the Warehouse Arts District, which produces Horse Soldier Bourbon.

In the early days of the War on Terrorism, Neil was among the 12-member team of Green Berets who were sent into Afghanistan to track down the Taliban conspirators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Because of the country's rugged terrain, Neil and his fellow Green Berets traded their Army Jeeps for horses, and became known as The Horse Soldiers.

Their stories were later told in the 2017 documentary, "Legion of Brothers," and the feature film "12 Strong," starring Chris Hemsworth. They were also commemorated the America's Response Monument in Liberty Park in New York City, featuring a bronze horse soldier on horseback.

See related story: Trading Saddle For Sails, Horse Soldiers Embark On 50-Hour Regata

Neil now serves on the board of directors for Rise St. Pete, which broke ground for the 9/11 monument to be erected at Fifth Street South and 22nd Street.

The 20- by 40-foot St. Pete Rise memorial revolves around a rusty steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center. St. Petersburg artist Mark Aeling of MGA Sculpture Studios has designed the memorial that will become the focal point of a park in the Warehouse Arts District.

The memorial will include an interactive fountain guarded by a 25-foot phoenix wing made from copper recovered from the renovation of the Statue of Liberty. The wing symbolizes rebirth. It will sit atop a pile of white limestone, reminiscent of the crumbled concrete that littered Ground Zero.

Anchoring the Rise Monument will be blue tile arch, representing the rising of a new day. Four trees will flank the monument, symbolizing the Callery Pear Tree, which survived the attacks on the World Trade Center and became known as The Survivor Tree.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected to create this monument," said Aeling. "Like a phoenix rises from the ashes, Rise is all about rebirth, looking forward as a community while honoring our past."

Diane Morton, executive director of the Warehouse Arts District Association, also sits on the board of Rise St. Pete.

“WADA is honored to give the Rise St. Pete memorial a home,” said Morton. “We understand the transformative, healing power of art, and know the impact this monument will have on residents, visitors and the hundreds of thousands of active and retired first-responders and military personnel who call Tampa Bay home.”

Rise St. Pete is continuing to collect donations for the monument. Donations may be made online or mailed to Rise St. Pete/ArtsXchange, care of Diane Bailey Morton, 515 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg 33712.