Memorial Eagle
(2003)
Subject: Eagle Dimensions (inches): 38.5 x 19 x 20 Medium: Cor-ten Steel Description: I have completed the 'Memorial Eagle' in memory of the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed just outside Shanksville, PA on 9/11/01. Passenger Alan Beaven was a family member and we were in Shanksville for the commemorative program 9/11/02. Just before we headed back to Cape Cod we decided to visit the temporary memorial site to say our last goodbyes.
As we headed down the hill away from the site, I spotted Rollock, Inc. a metal scrap yard. I decided to go in and take a look. I entered the scrap yard with great anticipation and soon learned that most of the scrap iron there came from the local strip mining industry. On 9/11/2001 United Airlines Flight 93 took its first bounce close by, losing its tail and just missing the scrap yard.
I wanted to create a sculpture to honor the heroes. I felt that at some point I would be able to tie everything together and come up with something that would say it all. Chris Kordell , owner was kind enough to walk me through his place and help me pick out 'stuff' that I might incorporate into the sculpture. As it turns out, I managed to use most of what I gathered.
The Memorial Eagle is standing on a huge drill bit from a strip-mining machine. The rock in the claw of the eagle we picked up hundreds of yards forward in a wooded area where the cockpit landed. Several other huge drill bits entwine to form the rest of the sculpture's base. The vertical/cylindrical object on the left side of the sculpture base is from the scrap yard and is used to form a sealed box which hold scraps from the plane which had blown out of the trees that day when we were there. It l also holds a few other sentimental objects from the Beaven family.
Original Available For Sale:
No
Limited Edition Available:
No
Direct Correspondence to:
Del Filardi c/o Birds of Steel
9 South Bridge Path Truro, MA
USA 02666 Tel: (508) 349-7448 Fax: (508) 349-7448
