Editorial: Wauconda Sept. 11 memorial bickering an ironic embarrassment

In the immediate aftermath of the horrors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the nation came together in a spirit of unity that this generation had never felt before and has never duplicated since.

Those tragic days were among our darkest, but in many respects also our brightest. To be sure, we came together focused on a common enemy. But just as surely, that unity also was bonded by a common heartache and a common purpose.

The so-called war on terror continues unabated today with no end in sight. Indeed, it may be generations before the long fight is concluded.

But the sense of unity has long since been lost. We see it certainly in the national debate and in the incessant partisan manipulations in Washington where even foreign policy - at one time generally removed from randy politicking - falls prey to ugly posturing and gamesmanship.

It is against that backdrop this weekend that we reflect on unfortunate bickering that takes place even here, in the suburbs, on a local memorial that you would think would prompt us all to rise above petty squabbles and embarrassments that frankly disrespect the memories of all those the memorial is intended to honor.

The new Heroes of Freedom Memorial was ceremoniously unveiled Sept. 11 on Main Street in Wauconda. The centerpiece of that memorial is a sacred beam from one of the fallen World Trade Center buildings in New York.

The memorial suddenly sprung up in Wauconda after years of infighting in Gurnee, where disputes over control of the tribute led to a sordid lawsuit against the village by the headstrong trustee who originally conceived of it - Kirk Morris, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Ultimately, after years of battles with Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik over control of a similar memorial, Morris took the idea to Wauconda, where he was welcomed by Mayor Frank Bart, a veteran who's been a big proponent.

But Bart's long been at odds with most of his trustees over a number of issues, and the memorial now has become just the latest one.

Last week, it all came to an ugly head when the village public works employees removed four storyboards from the memorial that had been installed without the village board's review and approval.

Petty? Well, critics of the trustees could argue that. But by the same token, the prior reviews had been one of the requirements in the agreement to erect the memorial, and not an arbitrary one. Village officials legitimately want to ensure that the memorial is accurate both in grammar and in historical record and also want a tone in keeping with the village's wishes to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

This is a memorial. Can we put away political differences to work in a spirit of harmony to build one that properly respects those it honors?