Planning a Memorial
A memorial is not erected from one day to the next; it is the outcome of a project, which requires careful planning, support from many quarters and several years to complete.
It has taken 5 years for the Luxemburg Memorial Ground, an immense undertaking, to reach its present state. More trees still need to be planted.
If countries are to achieve a National Memorial by the end of the Decade of Action – 2020, then planning and work will need to start very urgently!
Below is an example of possible stages needed for a memorial to become a reality:
Stage 1
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Appointment of a Project Manager over a longer period (2-3 years)
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Initial consultation with organizations and individuals working in the road victim support and road safety fields, for feedback and approval. A resulting Project Committee, of members with skills and knowledge in relevant specialist fields, would be responsible for overseeing the project.
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Further consultations, via working groups or forums, in order to generate widest support for the Memorial, ideas for its potential design and funding.
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Collating a list of necessary components prior to inviting submissions, which would include: accessibility to the public, accessibility to disabled, right place for contemplation, safety, high artistic merit, cost-effectiveness, representativeness of citizens of the country, etc.
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Appointment of a Panel to assess submissions and choose winning entry.
Stage 2
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Planning the process from design to memorial and any work on the chosen site, by the Project Manager, overseen by Project Committee.
Stage 3
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Placing the memorial.
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Inauguration ceremony – the World Day of Remembrance is an ideal day!
