Palm Harbor Resident Visits New Memorial, Reflects on 9/11

Written by Jim Olson

I stopped by Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor to see the new 9/11 Memorial for the first time and thought I would share the pictures from my visit and a little personal story.   

As a young man in my early 20's during the early 1980's, I attempted to join the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) as a "candidate" firefighter (i.e. rookie). Over the years I had made many friends at Engine 71 on the north side and various engine/ladder companies throughout the city. It would be a perfect fit.

On duty 24 hours, off 48 - be around friends while performing a respected job and in between, do carpentry with my brother-in-law. Well, it wasn't to be. An injury in my younger years had resulted in my hip being pinned, and concerns over the integrity of the joint holding up in the long term to the stresses of the job, pretty much threw those dreams out the window. 

Next, I started a trucking business working around the CFD imposed work limitations as best I could, though probably not the best idea healthwise at the time. I contracted to the American Airlines Freight System working out of Chicago/O'Hare Airport throughout the Tri-State region, and later (after I sold the trucking business) was offered a load planner position at United Airlines and later still, worked for Continental Airlines in Tampa & Houston, Texas.

I also owned a business supplying off-duty wear to various fire departments throughout the country. So as you see, the combination of firefighters and the airline business was always close to home. Hence, my personal interest in the events of September 11th.

I knew these people in some fashion and what they were made of.  My first impression of the Curlew Hills 9/11 Memorial was one of awe. A gorgeous landscape layout and attention to detail in both the content of the script on the individual memorials and in the materials used in construction. The addition of the iron beam gives a more direct "physical" meaning to the monuments themselves and while twisted and distorted, can only begin to show the devastation experienced that day.

Overall, the whole memorial is much more impressive in person and pictures don't do it justice. The day I visited, Sunday, September 23rd was a nice, mostly sunny afternoon and it was a fitting weather day to view this inspirational monument to the victims of that fateful day. Quiet, peaceful and a great environment to think and reflect.  

You may notice I highlighted the name of "Steven Olson" of the FDNY Ladder Co. 3 in one of my pictures. He was of no relation, but his name caught my eye for obvious reasons and I am in the process of contacting his widow and sending her copies of the pictures I have taken of our local memorial.

While I knew no victims personally, a young woman in my training class at Continental lost one of her bridesmaids on one of the WTC flights, but they were fortunate enough to have spent the whole month prior to the events of 9/11 enjoying the summer of 2001 together. She was devastated. 

I know there have been other pictures on Patch of the construction phase and dedication but I thought your readers might like to see the finished memorial on any given day after the initial attention of the unveiling and maybe they can relate to my story, personal connections and how the day affected them. 

We'll all surely "never forget". 

Jim Olson

Palm Harbor, Florida.