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Photographer: Michael Herrick
Taken: March 29, 2011
Caption: Small Plaque on the Base of the Monument
Additional Description: The inspiration for our human rights monument was born in Warsaw shortly after the brutal slaying by the communists of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the courageous, outspoken, spiritual leader of the Solidarosc movement.
One night shortly after his murder the people of his parish gathered a pile of field stones as a monument before their church. The communist police, the 'zomos', tore it down the next day. The following night the people again built a similar monument, and again it was torn down. We here in Connecticut then decided to build an eternal flame, stone and steel monument that nobody would tear down. The monument was to be constructed of long-lasting steel in the form of a flame fed by common field stones placed there by people symbolizing their commitment to the goal of human rights for Poland and for all mankind.
The steel is caller Cor-ten, a type that first weathers and oxidizes to a light brown rust color, and then gradually becomes brown black, thereafter remaining unchanged for centuries.
Symbolically, the curved pieces represent flames, and the bars represent imprisonment and suppression, as under martial law. However the flames escape and burn, while the bars ironically support the flames and the principle of human rights. Each person viewing the monument will experience a symbolism particular to his own vision, though the overall message should be much the same. The plaque spells out the universal hope for human rights, freedom and peace.
Submitted: April 4, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
Database Locator Identification Number: p149105
File Size: 1.353 Megabytes

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