Amidst all of the ceremonies that take place across our nation in memory of the victims of September, 11, 2001, one unique tribute has been created in Corpus Christi, Texas by an artist named Julio Allo. Allo, although born in Spain, is a true American patriot at heart, building a hand carved wooden ship to honor those who perished on 9/11. Each sail depicts hand painted drawings that tell a story; chilling images of the planes heading towards the towers are a reminder of what happened on that day of terror.

 

 

The beautiful vessel is not only a memorable vision that delivers a strong message of both freedom and the innocent lives that were taken, but it’s also a far cry from the average size of a regular model ship. The “Nine-Eleven Commemorative Ship of Freedom” stands at a mighty 8 feet tall and 12.5 feet in length, making it a handcrafted colossal gift to honor the heroes who sacrificed their own lives to save others as well as the victims and their families. Allo’s passion for ship building started when he was a little boy in a small town called Laxe, La Coruna in Spain. He has built several ships over the years but nothing can top the dedication and love he put into the “Nine-Eleven.”

The “Nine-Eleven” stands on a table with all of the World Trade Organization members' flags that are stemmed from their own cannon. In addition to the table, Julio also carved a book that rests on a podium where inside lists all of the names of those who died on 9/11. His wife of 36 years, Delma Allo, also played a part in the building of the ship because she was the one who thought up most of the artwork on the sails. Together they constructed a true labor of love that they hope to share with the world.  “We hope to someday have it on display. It’s something we want to show the nation. This ship is such a special gift for all the victims,” said Delma. To read more about the “Nine-Eleven Commemorative Ship of Freedom” and to see more pictures, please visit their website at  . “We used symbols from 9/11 that show hope and courage. This is the biggest ship I’ve ever built and it really takes your breath way. We really just wanted to honor everyone that experienced 9/11, from those who died to those who sacrificed their own lives. To all the families and children and everyone around the world, this is for them,” said Julio.