Take Back The Memorial
| Company type | Advocacy group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Non-profit, advocacy |
| Founder | Robert Shurbet |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Debra Burlingame |
Take Back The Memorial is an advocacy group dedicated to ensuring that the World Trade Center memorial in New York City remains exclusively a tribute to those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Initiated by blogger Robert Shurbet and motivated by Debra Burlingame, sibling of Charles "Chic" Burlingame III, the captain of American Airlines Flight 77, TBTM’s purpose is to oversee and challenge any efforts that might shift the memorial’s emphasis away from the 9/11 victims and events.
Activities
Take Back The Memorial is well-known for its opposition to the proposed International Freedom Center (IFC) at the World Trade Center location. The organization argued that the IFC’s planned exhibits, which included critiques of previous U.S. policies, risked being interpreted as justifications for the attacks. In contrast, proponents of the IFC claimed their exhibits provided a fair historical perspective. TBTM maintained that the memorial should not incorporate references to events preceding 9/11. This viewpoint was prominently expressed by Debra Burlingame in her Wall Street Journal editorial entitled The Great Ground-Zero Heist. Subsequently, on September 28, 2005, New York Governor George Pataki decided to cancel the IFC project at the site.
In 2007, following the announcement of how victim names would be displayed on the memorial, TBTM along with New York City uniformed services unions voiced concerns. They advocated for including detailed information such as each individual’s name, age, employer, and where relevant, their rank and assignment, aiming to provide fuller recognition and respect.