McDonalds Corporation Submit Design For World Trade Centre Monument.

Ailing fast-food giant McDonald’s yesterday threw their hat into the ring in the bid to design the building that will occupy the site of the World Trade Centre’s twin towers. Claiming that he wanted to construct “a lasting McMonument…I mean monument” to the victims of last year’s disaster and to the people of New York, Chief Executive Jim Cantalupo said that any design should be “Mighty, Magnificent, Moving, Majestic and a fitting Memorial to the brave souls of Manhattan.

Faced with a worrying slump in sales, both in the US and overseas, and having recently announced the company’s first losses, Cantalupo denied that he was attempting to hijack the rebuilding project in order to boost the profile and image of McDonald’s. “I find that kind of suggestion, frankly, insulting. It saddens me that people have become so cynical that they find the notion of an enormous, multi-national corporation wanting to give something back to society hard to take seriously. Why is it so strange that McDonald’s should wish to pay tribute to the thousands of potential customers, whose lives and future consumption were so tragically cut short last September. And why should we apologise for attempting to bring some joy and hope to the faithful patrons who have vowed to continue defiantly to live and spend in the face of terror.”

While they have as yet to settle on a final design, with several under consideration, Cantalupo reported that one in particular seemed to capture the “Mettle and the Moxy of the people of New York, and our Motivation to move on with our lives, whilst also reflecting the Magic of the human spirit.” Describing it as two great golden arcs – one for each of the twin towers – Cantalupo explained the powerful symbolism of the arc, stating that it is a traditional symbol of re-birth and re-generation. “Seriously” he re-affirmed.

Cantalupo stressed that he hoped that McDonald’s’ bid would be given due consideration, and that his vision of a New York skyline dominated by two enormous, inspiring arcs of hope could become a reality. “We were all shocked by what happened on 9/11. So money lost their lives when those planes cashed. I would be honoured if we could be given the chance to build a lasting McMorial.”