The Lady and The Island
The Land
The Teardrop
There has been a resounding amount of urban legend surrounding the Russian tribute to September 11th which made the Lolligag crew very curious to discover the facts about this iconic monument. We made it a special point to learn as much as we could about the statue, its construction, controversy and beauty. We found the monument to be exceedingly moving and wonderful tribute to all who have lost their lives to terrorism, not just those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This is especially poignant when one considers the infighting and territorial concerns that have prevented a memorial from being constructed in Manhattan. 
Standing in Bayonne, New Jersey and pointing across the water toward Manhattan, Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli stated "from here if you looked at the trade towers, they looked as if they were blended as one." He further added that the tear symbolizes "sadness over grief that will become happiness in the future when terrorism is defeated." The massive 100-foot tall memorial evokes the World Trade Center that once sat across the Hudson River. Jagged lines divide the monument into two tower-like pieces, and a 40-foot steel teardrop gently hangs in the open center, like a bell. Like the 72-year-old artist, known for grand statues that some critics have called more "kitsch" than art, the sculpture isn't without controversy. The first plan had the sculpture located on the Jersey City waterfront, but city officials there rejected it. Jersey City Leaders said they didn't realize the monument's height and thought it would impede views of the Hudson and New York City skyline. City officials in Bayonne welcomed the sculpture. They offered a city-owned parcel of land that was once the site of a military base. The sculpture, To The Struggle Against World Terrorism, is the centerpiece of a two-acre park in Bayonne, whose officials are happy and proud to display the public art. The city is not paying for the memorial, but agreed to pay $1.25 million to create the first phase of the waterfront park. The monument also has been described as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia and the artist to the people of the United States, in the spirit of France's gift of the Statue of Liberty. 
To further this point, when standing behind and looking through the Teardrop, the Statue of Liberty and the site of the Twin Towers are within the direct straight line of vision. The memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2006 in a ceremony attended by former President Bill Clinton. Also in attendance were Michael Chertoff, the Bush Administration Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and family members of World Trade Center victims. Contrary to the claim of the internet rumor/urban legend, the announcement of the intended memorial as well as its dedication did receive extensive worldwide news coverage as did the visit to New Jersey on September 15, 2005, by Russian president Vladimir Putin for the groundbreaking ceremony.
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