Published: July 15, 2007 11:13 pm      

Flight 93 memorial-design critic pens book

Frustrated that his message hasn’t picked up much play with national media outlets, writer and blogger Alec Rawls is releasing a book about what he contends are Muslim and terrorist-honoring elements in the chosen Flight 93 National Memorial design.

After criticism that the semicircle of red maples that formed the central element of the design, originally titled “Crescent of Embrace,” resembled the red crescent associated with Islam, the design was modified to add trees along the open edge.

But Rawls and his supporters say the changes are superficial and that numerous other details reference Islam – and honor the terrorists of Sept. 11, 2001. For instance, Rawls, of Palo Alto, Calif., contends that the centerpiece of the design points toward Mecca.

Rawls’ claims are untrue and “preposterous,” according to Patrick White, Families of Flight 93 vice president. “We went through in detail all his original claims and came away with nothing.”

Rawls said the National Park Service’s responses to his concerns were dismissive. He said he even sent the FBI information, hoping to prompt an investigation.

“It amazes me sometimes that there aren’t a whole horde of people trying to stop this design,” he said.

Rawls has released a draft version of his book, “Crescent of Betrayal,” for free download at crescentofbetrayal.com, saying he hopes to make an impact in the runup to a July 28 meeting on the memorial.

“It’s 50/50 in terms of which way it will go,” he said.

The book is scheduled to be published in August by World Ahead Publishing.

White said the July 28 meeting won’t include deliberation on the design.

“The design has been chosen as of September 2005,” he said. “(The book) is not something we take seriously at this point.”