Ledger

Issue date: 1/29/04 Section: Campus News

An early rendering of VanGrinsven´s "World Peace"

Last February, Justen VanGrinsven, a technician with computer services, awoke with thoughts of peace on his mind. He found himself flooded with emotions and captured them in a poem which he titled, "World Peace."

"I read what I had written," said VanGrinsven. "At the end I was crying, I was so touched."

At about the same time, President Bush asked the country to step up and get involved in community.

It was in this spirit of community that VanGrinsven sent his poem out to newspapers and publications, hoping someone would be as touched as he by his words.

He had a vision of drawing upon the international symbol for peace and creating a monument to honor those whose lives were shattered on 9/11.
His dream was to place a portion of the memorial in the ground to give peace to the dead, a portion above the ground to give peace to the living. He drew a diagram and sent it to the governor and mayor of New York.

Two months later, he heard of an international contest to erect a monument on ground zero to remember those who were impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.

An opening message from Kevin Rampe in the competition guidelines stated, "The World Trade Center complex was declared, upon its completion 30 years ago, a living symbol of man's dedication to world peace."

"The minute I read that, "said VanGrinsven, "I knew it was a calling. It was something I had to do or I would regret it for the rest of my life."

He decided to enter the contest.

Media Credit: Joshua Gaebel The Artist, Justen VanGrinsven

VanGrinsven followed the competition criteria to the letter. He chose the international symbol for peace as the heart of his entry. He describes his vision with passion.

There were to be ponds where people could wash their hands of hate, ignorance and intolerance. The pond would also serve as a place of reflection, where one could ponder the past, present and future.
The plan included two parks, one to offer a place to remember and reflect. The other for children to laugh, play and aid in the healing.
A staging area in the shape of an open hand, symbolic of a helping hand, would offer a place for rest or public gathering.

Private grieving rooms inside the structure would allow family members to mourn those whose lives were lost.

To honor those who aided in recovery efforts, VanGrinsven included two beams: one to acknowledge the heroic efforts of fire and medic crews, the other to recognize the police and port authorities.

A banner, a gift from the LA Fire Department to New York's, engraved with "We support you and together we stand united as one," inspired a message to be etched on the connecting beams.

All in all, VanGrinsven estimates he put over 100 hours into the project. His girl friend and media services provided graphic assistance, but for the most part, this was his endeavor.

He submitted his entry among another 13,683 submissions.

"Unfortunately, I was not chosen," said VanGrinsven. "'Reflecting Absence' was the winning entry."

Van Grinsven believes a monument to peace, not absence, would better honor the victims.

"I could think of no greater meaning of life and death than it be given for world peace and the love thereof," said VanGrinsven.

VanGrinsven admits his qualifications to build this monument are simply a love of building things, a craft started in his childhood.

"Win or lose, this was an event that needed to happen to fulfill my calling" said VanGrinsven. "I have no regrets."

To see a complete list of competition guidelines and the winning entry, visit the World Trade Center site at wtcsitemrmorial.org

To view VanGrinsven's complete entry packet, visit www.staff.washington.edu/justenv/WorldPeace1.ppt

WORLD PEACE

by J.L VanGrinsven

From the rising of the sun to the shooting of the stars
One way seems as near as the other is far
A land of strange places with oceans in between
But for as divided as it appears it's more together than its seams
It's a ball in a circle with great animation
Funny thing is no one knows the destination
Some say it's Jesus, some say it's Allah
But both say it's my way or hell will befall ya
Now a circle that's true has neither beginning nor end
So what's the big deal we're just a circle of friends
Some like it with sugar and others with spice
So we eat it how we like it because it's our God given life
Tastefully the dish that you wish for is given to eat
However the wish that you dish for is best taken as a treat
So let us serve one another with the honor of ourselves
It's just a simple gesture but its might can befall hell
United we stand, divided we cease
So put the circle in the center,
And may the center be Peace!