The Rolling Memorial

The Rolling Memorial is a semi-trailer truck painted with a mural intended to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The project was conceived by John Holmgren of Shafer, Minnesota in the United States after hearing the song "Have You Forgotten" by country singer Darryl Worley.

An over-the-road truck driver, Holgren transformed his 18-wheeler into the tribute with the help of a mural artist. The mural image, along with the names of the victims of the attack, were printed onto vinyl sheets and applied to the truck at a cost of nearly $40,000 USD. Holgren sold t-shirts, toy models of the truck and other merchandise to cover expenses but has nonetheless gone into debt.

Holgren displays the truck all over the U.S. and continues to use it to transport freight when possible. In an interview with the Star Tribune, he said "Troopers pull me over just to get a picture with the truck. Once I even got out of a ticket. The guy said, 'I can't give this to you, knowing what you're doing.'" [http://web.archive.org/web/20050813014805/http://www.startribune.com/stories/191/5554123.html] Holgren has received emails from over 20 countries, and there are several websites devoted to his truck. He has also met with families of 9/11 victims.

An article in a trucking industry magazine RoadStarOnline [http://www.roadstaronline.com/2006/06/042a0606.asp] says that there is a plan to donate the truck to New York City in 2006, but it is now 2007 and there is no evidence this has happened.

There are pictures of the truck at Mall of America on flickr.com. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/rollingmemorial/] None are newer than October 2006. One picture has the caption "Gear Up sponsored this panel on the Rolling Memorial commemorating the sacrifice of the 343 on 911." [http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearupfoundation/267564499/]

A personal page on the social website fubar.com [http://www.fubar.com/livinit] dated September 11, 2006, claims that the author "Kris 'kjohnson' Johnson" age 23 has bought the truck to add to his fleet of 6 trucks, and will display it for charities:

I went to an orientation for Magnum Transportation in Fargo ND. While I was there I met a guy who told me about this "Rolling Memorial Truck" that was for sale. His name was John Holmgren. He was buying the truck from Can Am Transportation, but when the company went under the truck got taken away from him. He put me in contact with the owner yesterday, the owner told me what he wanted for it. I called the bank got the loan and picked up the truck. I am not putting this truck on the road, it will strictly be a show truck with 50% of proceeds going to the 9/11 charities, the other 50% going to MS, Cancer, and other charities of that sort.

The truck is a 1999 Freightliner Century, It has a series 60 Detroit Diesel motor (which is 460 HP) a 13 speed Eaton Fuller Transmission, with 355 rears....The trailer is a 1998 53 foot Utility trailer with sliding tandems, the refrigeration unit is built by Thermo King INC....The Truck Number Is 911. The Trailer Number Is 2001."

External links

* [http://www.roadstaronline.com/2004/10/034a0410.asp "NEVER FORGET" --- HolMgren's Rig pays tribute to 9-11 Victims and Patiotism spirit shown by Americans article in RoadStarOnline magazine']
* [http://www.fubar.com/livinit Kris 'kjohnson' Johnson website on social website fubar.com]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/rollingmemorial flickr tag results for 'rollingmemorial']
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearupfoundation/267564499/ Gear Up 343 panel] Photo of panel on truck sponsored by a firefighters group called Gear Up]