Monument Concept: "The Tomb of the Unknown Immigrant"

Hello All,

Today's conceptual design concept will be controversial to some here in the United States of America. Ironic the land of Immigrants if not conquerors that the only native children are the Indigenous people of the America's. That have died and are dying at our Southern U.S. Borders of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The estimated count at most conservative numbers is between 6,330 to 7,000 illegal status Immigrants perishing in the deserts of their ancestors. Those numbers are from the year 1998 up to 2014 (the 2015 numbers aren't included). As cited by the "U.S. Border & Customs Agency" as of 2015 statistics released so far. Those illegal Immigrant deaths could be much higher up to 9,000 since those cadavers exposed to the elements haven't been located in the southern desert landscape to date.

The above picture is from the city of Ypres, Belgium as a World War One Memorial dedicated to the British Commonwealth. It's called "Menin Gate Memorial" which represents 54,389 British officer and enlisted soldiers that do not have a grave to be buried into at all. Recently on July 9th, 2015 the 30,000th "Last Post" Buglers song was played to commemorate such a sacrifice. Every evening at 8:00 PM the volunteer fireman squad in ceremonial uniforms play the bugle song of the British "Last Post". The American equivalent would be the bugle song of "Taps" that started in the year 1862 during the Civil War period. Only for a period of 4 years during German occupation during WWII, they didn't play such a commemorative song. Until the Polish army began to retake the city towards the end of the second Great War. Allowing them to honor such a sacrifice as the city was still being taken back from the Germans.

The American version is the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This tomb was also commissioned just after the end of World War One. On March 4th, 1921 as an act of Congress just overlooking Washington D.C.

Now I'm not making a direct example of a military campaign sacrifice of tens of thousands of men. I am making the comparison that tombs do exist to honor the unknown dead. That have died not in disgrace but in cherished grace for their combined sacrifice. The only crime by the illegal Immigrants was the horror out of desperation that they chose to cross the American southern desert ill-equipped.

My conceptual design today is for a not for profit organization to be created via committee of valued stake holders for such a project to be undertaken. Once financing and location placement is finalized a architectural design document can be developed for a combination of a pavilion. That will consist of a "Tomb of the Unknown Immigrant" flanked to the left side by a Granite stone slabs Memorial. For the names of the rediscovered deceased Immigrants reconnected via DNA profile matches to living relatives searching themselves. With either a stone or bronze monument depicting the human condition desperation struggle of perishing in the southern American desert. That includes their aspiration of a better quality of life for their families. The pavilion can have an indoor chapel or Roman-Catholic Church affiliated on the grounds. The latter would require permission from a local Arch-Dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church. To donate or provide a low-cost lease for a parcel of land for such a tomb pavilion complex.

Aside from such a Monument Tomb Memorial chapel or church pavilion complex being erected to the deaths of the Unknown Immigrants. There would be one or more charitable organizational work associated in discovering via DNA and other forensic evidence perished Immigrants to be reconnected to their respective families. Such as "Colibri Center" out of  Tucson, Arizona that is committed to such a mission already as a human rights advocacy organization. Another such entity effort is the "Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants" based out of Pima County, Arizona. Providing plotted map locations of deceased Immigrants in their county since 2001. The last charitable group I'll mention started off as a spiritual compassionate initiative versus a secular one. They are known as "No More Deaths" as a faith-based community outreach as of 2004. That later became in 2008 an official ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, Arizona.

The above picture is a monument out of New York City Battery Park dedicated to all the Immigrants globally that entered America through Castle Garden, New York. This bronze monument depicts several era's of Immigrants such as an Eastern European, a Jew, a freed African Slave, a Priest, and a Worker. The sculptor is "Luis Sanguino" celebrating the diversity of New York City. Further information can be found at this "Immigrant Monument Link". The greatest American Iconic monument for Immigrants is of course, the "Statue of Liberty" which had its own historical controversy when it was being erected.

Connections drawn between the Statue of Liberty and immigration were not always positive. Nativists (Americans who opposed immigration) linked the Statue to immigration most starkly in political cartoons critiquing foreigners' threats to American liberties and values.

Source: Nps.gov "The Immigrants Statue"


Not to forget the Victorian era "Ellis Island" Immigrant experience as remembered here on behalf of the Hayter Family.

All immigrants arriving at Ellis Island had to undergo a medical inspection. Medical officers screened immigrants for any indication of physical or mental illness. If illness was suspected, immigrants were detained at Ellis Island's hospital complex. In some cases, the incurable or extremely ill were sent back to their home countries. In total, approximately 3,500 immigrants died at Ellis Island; 1,400 being children.

Source: Nps.gov "Ellis Island Experience"

Immigrant deaths unfortunately, is nothing new historically speaking attempting to make the crossing into America itself. This denotes a multi-generational plight for families outside our borders seeking a greater dignified expression of a better quality of life. Immaterial on how they came to seek America be it by ship or on foot in the contemporary sense via a treacherous desert inhospitable climate. Such souls should be loved in a capacity that it gives them a dignified remembrance for the sacrifice to their family and their heritage. A place of hopeful healing be it on a spiritual level if not a secular one for the newly rediscovered Immigrant dead. To be given a solemn grace of being named and grieved decently by their relatives and countryman.

Economically the impact on a municipality that hosts such a Tomb Monument Memorial chapel or church pavilion complex may be beneficial. Since not only local citizens and Immigrants will visit but also tourists helping to add tax dollar revenues to such a sacred venue. Not to mention local area hospitality dollars also to be generated as part of the local attraction.

I would hope beyond the common sense benefits to such a placement of a Monument Tomb Memorial to the Unknown Immigrant. There would be an artistic offering to help generate a new Song for their Plight be it sung by Mariachi's or other musical artists. Making the song a thing of societal healing for those most deeply affected through a misgiving of losing a loved one in such a capacity.

This project as a conceptual design is an attempt to remember and heal from not only the past but the very present. Since these illegal Immigrant status deaths are still occurring to date on a perpetual basis. This "Tomb of the Unknown Immigrant" could become a cultural and humanitarian focal point. To help adequately address this southern border crisis not just by the U.S. States affected, but by the Nation as a whole. How many Migrant deaths will it take for Congress to act with nobility much less in a equitable humanitarian basis? Ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or more dead souls until this injustice is healed with dignity?

Ivan "Atrayo" Pozo-Illas, has devoted 21 years of his life to the pursuit of clairvoyant automatic writing channeling the Angelic host. Ivan is the author of the spiritual wisdom series of "Jewels of Truth" consisting of 3 volumes published to date. He also channels inspired conceptual designs that are multi-faceted for the next society to come that are solutions based as a form of dharmic service. Numerous examples of his work are available at "Atrayo's Oracle" blog site of 11 years plus online. Your welcome to visit his website "Jewelsoftruth.us" for further information or to contact Atrayo directly.