Giant Cross Stops at Bernards Library on Route to NYC

Strapped to the back of a pickup truck for almost 3,000 miles, a 14-foot high, 500-pound stainless steel cross made a stop in the back parking lot of the Bernards Township Library on Monday afternoon, on its way to its Aug. 11 installation at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church near Ground Zero in Manhattan. 

The sculptor was Los Angeles resident Jon Krawczyk, 40, who grew up in Boonton Township and is a 1988 graduate of Delbarton School in Morristown. He said he timed the stop to coincide with a presentation at the library by former township Mayor M. Ali Chaudry, who was talking about his new book "Islam & Muslims."

A second presentation by Chaudry is scheduled for 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Monday night at the at 32 S. Maple Ave. Chaudry said he uses this version of his book as course material for his class on Understanding Islam, offered through Rutgers University.

The two men reflected on memories and consequences of the World Trade Center attack while standing by the shining cross, which Krawczyk said was designed to reflect the faces of those looking at the piece.

Chaudry, who said he has been striving for the past several years to educate people about Islam and Muslims, posted one of about 4,000 messages, mementos and wishes that Krawczyk said had already been stuffed into a hole near the heart of the cross.

Eventually, that hole will be closed with a piece of metal from the World Trade Center, Krawczyk said. The cross, mounted on a ten-foot base, is due to be installed at St. Peter's Church, which will move the famous "9/11 Cross" discovered in the destroyed Twin Towers to a museum, he said. He said his cross is scheduled to makes its official debut at St. Peter's at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Chaudry said his message called for wisdom and courage to overcome sentiments against Islam, and at the same time make America stronger.

The Pakistan-born Chaudry said he was first elected to the Township Committee in November 2001, just two months following the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attack. "It was a reassurance to me that this community was enlightened," he said.

Chaudry said he has since been seeking to promote harmony and understanding between Muslims, Christians, Jews and all Americans, he said.

In a discussion with Krawczyk — filmed by a crew making a documentary, "Cross Country," about the trip across America with his cross — Chaudry called the terrorist attack an "atrocity" which also was an attempt by a small minority of Muslims to "hijack" the religion.

He said a prayer over the cross before it was to head on its way shortly before 2 p.m.

Another resident who posted a message was Lisa Jones, who stopped to speak to the documentary makers and also posted a message to place inside the cross.

"It brings back memories, but it also reminds us to stick together as a community," Jones said of seeing the cross outside of the library. 

The experiences and reactions of Americans to the journey of the St. Peter 9/11 Cross are being posted on an online blog. Krawczyk said the journey began on May 12, and has wound along about 5,000 miles.