"Lest We Forget"

Watercolor Painting by Gail B. Lancaster

This watercolor painting is a contemporary response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. My husband and I visited Ground Zero in December 2001, only three months after the attack. Everything was still very raw then - a long line of trucks were removing debris. The St. Paul's Episcopal Church was a resting place for the First Responders. A chain link fence surrounding the Church became a makeshift location for memorials and photos on site.

The overall feeling was one of quiet horror. Many people were there to see Ground Zero and pay respects, but barely a word was spoken, and then only in whispers.

This painting is a response to what I saw and felt on the visit. In the painting, shadows of the Twin Towers rise up again in back of the Spire of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In the foreground, memorials left at the site - prayer flags, t-shirts, handprints by school children and baseball caps hang on the surrounding fence in silent tribute to the victims.

Remembering the 911 attacks in "Lest We Forget" is my way of honoring the victims, while reminding us of the high cost of preserving our heritage and freedom.