Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall on Tuesday to unveil the initial designs for the new $5 million memorial on the Whitestone waterfront that will honor the 99 fallen post-9/11 service members from New York City who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service in Afghanistan and Iraq. The “Flames of Honor” memorial will be designed by artist Douwe Blumberg and built in Queens.
“Our fallen soldiers gave their last measure of devotion defending the American Dream, and we could not call ourselves the greatest city on the globe if we did not give them the tribute they deserve,” Adams said. “With this memorial, we will honor a new generation of souls who gave their lives far too early in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and say ‘thank you’ to our service members and veterans every day of the year with a beautiful space for remembrance and reflection.”
The memorial will be located in Queens, which was home to the largest number of post-9/11 service members in the city who were killed in action, and also has the highest population of living veterans in the five boroughs.
“The noble and heroic contributions of those who have served in the military after the devastating 9/11 attacks have helped keep our nation safe and secure,” Richards said. “But that safety has come at a painful cost, as far too many of our post-9/11 service members have been killed in action.”
Richards added that he is allocating $3 million in capital funds toward its construction. “Because the least we can do as Americans is give proper recognition to those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country,” he said.
Queens elected officials are proud the memorial will rise in Whitestone.
“This memorial is more than just stone and sculpture — it’s a lasting tribute to the 99 heroes from our city who answered the call after 9/11 and never came home,” Council Member Vickie Paladino said. “These men and women gave everything in defense of our country, and now, right here in Whitestone, we’re giving them a place of honor that will stand for generations. I’m proud that ‘Flames of Honor’ will be built in my district, and even prouder that our city is taking a moment to reflect, remember, and show unwavering gratitude.”
Assemblyman Edward Braunstein agreed. “I welcome news that a memorial will be erected on our beautiful Northeast Queens waterfront to honor the 99 fallen post-9/11 service members from New York City,” he said. “With one-third of these service members having hailed from Queens, and with the largest population of living veterans in the city, Queens is a fitting home to this tribute.”
Council Member Robert Holden, a staunch advocate for veterans, noted that only 24% of them in the city self-identify as veterans is a problem, because they are not getting the benefits they deserve.
“Veterans have been overlooked by City Hall for far too long, so these announcements are a meaningful step in the right direction,” Holden said. “I look forward to working with both sides of City Hall to deliver what our veterans have earned — including supportive housing, investment in our Veterans Service Organizations, relief from burdensome bureaucratic regulations and fines on our Posts and Halls, and real funding for groundbreaking PTSD treatments like Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories.”
The Borough President also remembered another staunch advocate for veterans during his remarks at City Hall. “I want to acknowledge one person whom I know many of us wish would be here today to thank in person. And that’s our colleague, our friend, our brother, the late Paul Vallone, who was very passionate about this project, and during his time in the City Council and as deputy commissioner at Veterans Services, he was a vigorous advocate for this memorial,” Richards said. “I remember him talking to me about it when I first became borough president, and even though he’s not here in this room, his legacy is truly eternal, and this memorial will be a testament to his life of service on behalf of those who served us.”
