Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 12, 2007

Memorials chosen for fallen employees

A polished black granite pylon and a wall mounted plaque will honor 21 Metro employees who died on the job.

A Metro Board committee today approved designs for the memorials, and a final vote is scheduled for July 26. The 12-foot high pylon with a stainless steel "M" logo will stand on the mezzanine at Metro Center. It will be surrounded by a granite circle with the inscription: "This memorial is dedicated to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority employees who lost their lives in the line of duty." Silver lettering will spell out the names, job titles, years of services and the year of death of the fallen employees.

A second four-by-five foot black granite plaque will be placed at Metro's Carmen E. Turner Maintenance and Training Facility in Hyattsville, Md. The memorials will be installed early next year.

"These memorials recognize those who lost their life providing Metro services to this region," said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

Another granite slab would be installed at Metro's Chinatown headquarters if there is sufficient funding. The Board approved spending $50,000 on the memorials last December. Five months earlier, board members approved creating a scholarship fund for minor dependents of employees who die on the job.

The death of Automated Train Control Technician Jong Won Lee, 49, of Springfield, Va., inspired the creation of the scholarship and memorials. Lee was hit and killed by a Red Line train May 2006 at the Dupont Circle Metrorail station.

News release issued at 12:00 am, July 12, 2007.