First Responders Plaza Light Globes

At Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, two Light Globe monuments –the 9/11 Light Globe and the First Responders Light Globe – stand as steel testaments to lives taken by terrorism and the heroes who supported their local communities. The 42 inch diameter globes were repurposed from old butane tanks and then galvanized and finished with paint to withstand the elements and maintain their visual appeal.

Within the park’s First Responders Plaza, the paired monuments frame remembrance and gratitude marking the significance of 9/11 and the everyday courage of first responders.

The 9/11 globe was created to honor the lives lost in the attacks. Its four faces capture pivotal moments from that devastating day:

1. American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8:46 AM.
2. United Airlines Flight 175 struck the World Trade Center’s South Tower at 9:03 AM.
3. American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at 9:37 AM.
4. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03 AM.

On top of the globe is a model of the Statue of Liberty –an enduring emblem of American freedom and democracy.

The First Responders globe honors those trained to respond in an emergency and run toward danger. Its four panels depict:

1. Back the Blue, recognizing law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to serve communities nationwide.
2. The Maltese Cross, honoring firefighters; its use dates to the Crusades and symbolizes protection and the willingness to sacrifice their life for others.
3. The Star of Life, recognizing emergency medical care; its six points represent the six essential tasks rescuers provide to someone in need.
4. A final scene depicting unity and collaboration across all first responders.

On top of the glove, a bell represents the firefighter’s bell once used to sound alarms to and summon brave men and women to serve others.

To preserve the monuments’ paint finish and protect the steel beneath, the globes were hot-dip galvanized before painting. The park team prioritized longevity, and galvanizing provides that by shielding the steel inside and out, strengthening vulnerable edges where corrosion starts. HDG ensures the monuments keep their intended look for years to come with minimal maintenance.