In remembrance of all who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
An expression of children’s hopes for a more peaceful and just world.
Dedicated: June 2003.
“If we are to teach real peace in the world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.”
– Gandhi
The Circle of Peace / Peace Wall Memorial, was created in honor of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The idea for the memorial grew out of our children’s need to express their hopes and vision for a better world and a more peaceful future. We decided that the memorial should be made out of stones because they represent eternity, strength, and planet Earth. The wall is circular, like the planet and the circle of life. It has four openings, one for each compass point, a gesture of welcome to all four corners of the earth. In the center are three shallow pools containing small stones, which represent the victims. The form of the wall is inspired by a symbol created by peacemaker Nichols Roerich in New York in 1929, which represents past, present, and future enclosed in the circle of eternity; science, art and religion held together in the ring of culture.
The memorial is our tribute to all those whose lives ended on that tragic September morning, and our symbol of hope and remembrance for all of us who share in contemplating it, now and in the future.
– Beverly Braxton
How the Circle of Peace Memorial was Built
Phase one of the memorial, the circular wall, was completed in the summer of 2002, built from fieldstone collected from the fields surrounding the school. That September, the site was graded to the appropriate levels, preparing it for the installation of the pools. Sod was installed in early May, 2003 and, shortly thereafter, aerator pumps were installed in the center circles to keep the water bubbling over the stones. That fall, landscaping was completed, including paths and careful plantings.
In June 2003, a Dedication Ceremony was held, during which members of the community dedicated stones for the fountains in memory of people affected by tragedy. The stones were placed in the pools during the ceremony. Warwick students from all grades recited poetry, sang songs, and played music during the event along with other invited guests.
Used with permission of the Times Herald-Record.