Plenty of folks dislike HOAs enough, but one neighborhood board in Florida decided to install a peculiar piece of art that really grinded people’s gears. Reddit user Holymolym shared a photo of what they claim is “an enormous 9/11 memorial statue park on the main road,” courtesy of their parents’ HOA. It’s a statue of the twin towers engraved with 9 and 11, a service dog, the words “Never Forget,” and different branches of the military printed on the side, including the Space Force.
While there’s no argument to be had about how tragic 9/11 was, the topic has been quite controversial, especially in recent years. That said, this HOA’s memorial statue has some questionable design choices, one of which is the Space Force, which wasn’t a thing in 2001, as it was founded in late 2019. The One World Trade Center statues with a service dog are also rather debatable symbols, depending on what the artists were trying to convey.
That said, one thing is certain: it has Reddit both confused and outraged. According to Holymolym, local high school students did the design, which could explain some things. But the decision to set it up on the main road, by the HOA no less, intrigued people, to say the least.
“A Muslim family must’ve moved in,” joked a commenter. “The Space Force didn’t exist on 9/11,” pointed out another. “What does the dog have to do with 9/11? Genuinely asking,” asked a third. “Can you imagine having to pay HOA fees, and then this is what they spend the money on?” remarked a fourth.
OP Feels the Memorial Is Disrespectful to Those Affected by 9/11, Specifically Their Loved Ones
OP added that their family is from the NYC area. They had a cousin who worked in the towers but made it out alive, and their dad had a co-worker who lost their life on Flight 93. That said, they feel that the memorial is “absolutely bizarre and tasteless.” “I’m mad I have to look at it,” they wrote.
It’s important to note that OP didn’t say whether HOA funds went to the statue or whether it was privately paid for or gifted by someone. There was also no mention of its total cost or whether the neighborhood voted for it. Still, no one can argue that the alleged high schoolers’ design is unique at best but possibly tacky at worst, especially to those connected to 9/11.
