First Responders Plaza Light Globes

At the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, two light globes monuments – the 9/11 Light Globe and the First Responders Light Globe – commemorate lives taken too soon from terrorism and heroes who have supported their local communities. Because the light globes were painted, hot-dip galvanizing has provided added durability and helped the two monuments withstand the environment and maintain their visual appeal.

Within the First Responders Plaza at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, two light globe monuments honor the significance of 9/11 and first responders. 

The 9/11 globe was built in remembrance of the lives lost during the terrorist attack. The four sides to the globe depict scenes from the devastating day:

1. The first plane American Airlines Flight 11 that flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM
2. The second plane United Airlines Flight 175 that flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 AM
3. The third plane American Flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon at 9:37 AM
4. The fourth plane United Flight 93 which crashed into a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03 AM

On top of the globe sits a model of the Statue of Liberty – a symbol of American freedom and democracy.

The First Responders globe celebrates the men and women who are trained to respond in an emergency and also has four scenes which include:

1. Back the Blue for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line daily to serve communities across the country.
2. Maltese Cross to recognize firefighters; the use of the Maltese Cross dates back to the Crusades and is a symbol of protection, meaning that whoever wears the cross is willing to sacrifice their life for their fellow man.
3. Star of Life recognizing emergency medical care; with six sides, the star represents the six main tasks rescuers provide to help someone in need
4. The last scene depicts the unity and collaboration between all first responders

The bell on top of the globe represents the firefighter’s bell which was used to signify the alarms that have summoned the brave men and women to fight fires and serve others.

Hot-dip galvanizing was used to preserve the coat and paint color that was applied to the monuments. The longevity of the structure was important to the park team, and they recognized that the service life of the monument increases substantially because of the galvanizing work completed. Through the hot-dip galvanizing process, the globes will be preserved and protected from the inside and outside.

Longevity with minimal maintenance was integral to the project. The team chose hot-dip galvanizing because there are less maintenance issues with galvanizing compared to other coating options explored.