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September 12, 2018
PCI Group's 911 Memorial Remembrance
On September 11,
2018 the employees of PCI Group gathered at 8:46 AM outside the company’s
headquarters to honor the brave men and women who lost their lives on September,
11, 2001. This year marks the 17th consecutive year that PCI has gathered to
honor the 2977 civilians, firefighters and rescue workers that were lost
during the attack.
The gathering took
place in front of the 9/11 monument constructed just outside of the
entrance to PCI in 2011. The monument features two towers (symbolic of the
Twin Towers attacked on 9/11) which are constructed of 100% solid, jet
black granite with a polished mirror finish. Inscribed on the front of
the base of the towers are three commemorative passages: “We Will Always
Remember September 11, 2001”, “Dedicated to Those Who Lost Their
Lives and the Brave Who Gave Theirs”, and “God Bless America.” As
a reminder for future generations, the expressions “Celebrate Life” and
“Salute America and Its Heroes” are inscribed on the back of the
base. Between the towers is a hand-crafted bronze eternal
flame. Framing the monument are two benches and three flags: the
American flag, a 9/11 flag, and the South Carolina flag.
For Chris Kropac, President of PCI Group, a company founded in
New York in 1970 until its relocation to Fort Mill (Lancaster County),
South Carolina in September 2008, the events of 9/11 hit hard. With
deep roots, including a former office space in the south World Trade Center
in the late 80’s, and family ties to New York, the attack on the Twin
Towers left indelible scars and losses for Chris and many of the company’s
employees just as it affected other Americans, and especially New
Yorkers. When asked why he had the monument built, Kropac
thought instantly of his two children, Christian, now 17, and Carissa, age
14. He wanted them to understand the significance of a “day that
changed our nation…and our world forever.”
“Coming from New York,
we felt the impact of this event in a way only New Yorkers
understand. We just had to do something to honor those who lost their
lives and the many brave first responders who sacrificed theirs to try to
save others,” said Kropac. “This is our
generation’s Pearl Harbor and I wanted my kids and other children to
understand what happened and how the world was profoundly changed by the
senseless attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.” When someone
asks why we have made this investment in a 9/11 monument on private
grounds, I tell them, that’s why. Because I want my kids to know what
happened and never forget.”
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