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Sculpture by Service Experts employee receives accolades and appreciation

Service Experts Canada employee donates “Thundering Silence” to New York City Hospital in memory of the September 11 terrorist attacks

        Service Experts Canada employee Paul Shier’s hand-carved soapstone sculpture Thundering Silence, created in memory of the September 11 terrorist attacks, received resounding accolades and appreciation when it was dedicated at a recent reception at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
        More than 350 people—150 from Canada—attended the emotional ceremony to thank Shier for the sculpture and pay tribute to those who lost their lives.  The guests included numerous New York City and Canadian officials and dignitaries.
        The 185-pound, 22 x 22-inch sculpture of a full-size pair of fireman’s boots and helmet, valued at $28,000, will be permanently displayed in the hospital’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion, which will open in April. Many of the 9-11 victims were treated in this hospital.
        After the tragic event, Shier, a field supervisor for the Lennox International subsidiary Service Experts, considered going to Manhattan to help with the clean up, but decided to create the sculpture to pay tribute instead.  “Thundering Silence was created to honor the brave, heroic and the proud so that their deeds, lives, and their memories will survive forever,” he said. “Taking nearly three years and over 1,000 hours of emotion guiding my hands, I hope the memorial does justice to whom it honors.”
        Shier was grateful for the emotional unveiling ceremony for Thundering Silence.
        “It’s kind of amazing.  It’s more than I expected,” said Shier of Tweed, Ontario, Canada.  “I was planning to bring it on a truck and leave.  I had no idea at that time where it was going.  I figured I was going to come down here and drop it off and then they’d (city officials) choose where it would go. I didn’t expect anything like this.”  But Shier’s brother-in-law Wayne Mastromatteo, a retired firefighter, knew this tribute from Shier deserved a grand occasion. 
        He helped organize the event with Sheila-Marie Youmansdonatella, of Ontario, and Fara Tabaei, associate executive director of Bellevue Hospital. He also helped coordinated the trip for the 150 Canadian guests.  Fed Ex donated shipping the sculpture from Canada.
        Mastromatteo was one of the numerous speakers at the ceremony.
        “We must remember to never ever forget (September 11),” he said. “This is a detailed sculpture that truly captures the emotion of that traumatic and devastating event.”
        Speaker Harold Meyers, Manhattan Borough Commander for the New York Fire Department, shared his story about that devastating day. “While the world watched in disbelief, the New York City fire department responded and helped to evacuate approximately 25,000 people before the towers collapsed.  This was the most successful rescue ever accomplished,” he said to the emotional crowd. “No one who responded on September 11 and worked it will ever forget the heat, choking dust, smells, sounds, sights, the taste of that awful place. It will be part of us for the rest of our lives.  This sculpture will serve as a constant reminder to all people of the events that occurred on that terrible day,” he said. I want to thank our good neighbors from the north for remembering us with this wonderful gift.” 

Sculpture has many symbolic references

         Shier, who’s been sculpting for 28 years, carved the work of art from a 650-pound soapstone rock he selected from a campground near his home.
        As he created the sculpture, numerous newspaper and magazine articles about the September 11 attacks taped on the walls of his studio constantly reminded him of the tragedy and tremendous loss. “I’m not sure how I came up with the idea. It just developed in my head and I scribbled sketches on a piece of paper,” he said.
        This sculpture is filled with symbolism.  The right boot, which is standing, represents the pride of the people and the emergency service workers.  The left boot, which is lying down, depicts the collapse of the south tower.  The helmet represents those who died and those who volunteered their time during the tragedy.
        The sculpture also contains a pocket watch set at 9:56, the time the south tower collapsed.“I like to try to put something realistic in my work to draw reality into it. I set the watch at the time the south tower collapsed.  That’s where the title comes from Thundering Silence.  When the south tower collapsed, it made all the noise when it was crumbling, but when you watch everyone on the news, they were standing awe struck.  They weren’t saying anything. So, it was thundering silence. So, I set the watch at the time the south tower collapsed to connect it. Plus, the watch is steel, cold, and real.  It’s cold, hard reality,” Shier said.
        Mary-Anne Sills, mayor of Belleville, Ontario, Canada, and Consul General of Canada to New York Pamela Wallin were among the Canadian speakers who thanked Shier for his work. “I’m proud and gratified that the talented hands of our local artisan Paul Shier will speak for all of us and pay tribute to all the fire, emergency, rescue workers everywhere,” said Sills.
        “Paul, we are indebted to you for your strength and courage to make this happen.  This is an extraordinary tribute to you as an individual,” said Wallin. “Thank you for honoring all the firemen, police officers, and those who lost their lives.”
        Hospital officials were grateful to receive the sculpture and will display it proudly. “We will never forget,” said Alan Aviles, acting president/CEO Health and Hospitals Corporations. “Paul Shier’s work Thundering Silence in memory of the 9-11 attacks is extraordinary. When we look at it, we will most certainly be reminded of the thundering silence and loss we suffered that day, but we will also be reminded of the generosity and compassion of our Canadian neighbors.”
        Some of Shier’s family also attended the ceremony.
        “It was so emotional. It was hard to fight back the tears.  It brought everything back from that day,” said his aunt Sandra Dafoe. “He’s done a beautiful job and really put his heart and soul into it.”
        Shier’s son Shane was beaming at the reception. “I’ve seen dad working on this for quite a long while. And I’m really proud of him,” he said. "I know this is a dream come true for him.”

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