A stone commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York will be rededicated on the event’s eighth anniversary – albeit miles away from its initial installation.



Innovative Stone™ will rededicate the Freedom Stone on Sept. 11 for public viewing in a new memorial garden at its Long Island headquarters in this Long Island community.



The ceremony will include keynote speakers, special musical performances, a blessing of the stone and a release of Monarch butterflies and a white dove in gestures of remembrance and hope.



Original plans called for the Freedom Stone to serve as the cornerstone for the 1,776’-tall Freedom Tower, to be built on the site of World Trade Center towers One and Two in downtown Manhattan. Innovative fabricated and donated the 20-ton piece of garnet-flecked New York granite, which received its first dedication at the Ground Zero site on July 4, 2004.



Two years later, amid security-concerns-related construction delays of tower, workers took out the Freedom Stone and shipped it back to Innovative Stone. It’s been at the stone company since then.



“There has been an overwhelming reverence and respect at our company for the Freedom Stone, from the moment it was carved to its placement at Ground Zero and still today”, says Karen Pearse, CEO/founder of Innovative Stone. “Despite construction delays, this symbolic memorial stands beautiful, proud and resolute. It remains a symbol of hope, peace and rebuilding, while honoring those who were lost that tragic day.”



The Sept. 11 ceremonies will begin at 8 a.m. EDT at the company’s headquarters at 130 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge.