Tolland Resident Commemorates 9/11 with Memorial

Glenn Johnson, owner of , is remembering the with a memorial that he constructed in front of his car repair business on Merrow Road.

“You can’t ever forget this day,” Johnson said. “A lot of people here gave the ultimate.”

In a tribute to the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001, Johnson has spent just over a year planning, printing and constructing a visual memorial for the thousands of people who lost their lives.

He said that he started his work on September 10, 2010 and was putting on the finishing touches the morning of September 11, 2011.

The memorial features a large central panel with before and after pictures of the towers, with the outline of the World Trade Center imprinted behind the photographs. Horizontal panels displaying photographs of the planes’ collisions have a similar background that combines with the center panel to create the New York City skyline, an effect that is more visible when standing far away.

The end panels each have a designated focus. Johnson dedicated one to listing each victim’s name and photograph, which he hopes will help viewers visualize the true loss of life on that day.

“You say 3,000 people,” he said, “and here they are.”

The second panel, located on the opposite end of the memorial next to a wreath of flowers donated by , focuses on the sacrifice of the first responders. Pictures show firefighters carrying out victims and raising the American flag.

“This is my tribute,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, many people have stopped by to take a look at the memorial, especially during the tenth anniversary on Sunday. He said the response has made the many hours of work worth his while.

Along with help from his wife and friends, the Connecticut Sign Factory and owner Jeff Baral assisted with designing and printing the boards, and Big Y donated commemorative flags for the exhibit.

The featured quote on the exhibit is from former President George W. Bush.

“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.”