A new monument, Rise St. Petersburg, in the Warehouse Arts District will honor the living and dead heroes of 9/11. The concept for Rise developed when a steel beam from the World Trade Center was recovered from underneath America’s Response Monument at the National September 11th Memorial Museum in New York City and given to the owners of American Freedom Distillery, a member of the Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA).

A local distillery, American Freedom, is owned by former special operators that played instrumental roles in the American response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and who now reside in Tampa Bay.

When completed, Rise St. Pete will be a 20’ x 40’ monument with the WTC steel as its central focus. Designed by Mark Aeling of MGA Sculpture Studios, the monument and park will become a gathering place, spurring conversation and reflection by visitors of all ages.

“WADA is honored to give the Rise St. Pete memorial a home. 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,” added Diane Morton, Executive Director of WADA.

The team behind the design anticipate the construction costs to run upwards of $1,000,000. If you’d like to help make this monument a reality, you can donate to the project here.

A special groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 10, from 10am-11am at the corner of 5th Avenue South and 22nd Street. Follow the event on Facebook for further details.