Balbir Singh Sodhi - Mesa, AZ, USA
Posted by: 
RobCrusoe
N 33° 25.355 W 111° 39.553
12S E 438713 N 3698330
Quick Description: Memorial for Balbir Singh Sodhi.
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 3/9/2010 12:47:13 AM
Waymark Code: WM8BX8
Views: 16
Long Description:
On September 15th, 2001 (4 days after the 9-11 attacks), a confused individual took Balbir Singh Sodhi's life simply because of his appearance. The man committed the hate crime in a senseless attempt to retaliate against al-Qaeda and the Islamic extremists responsible for 9-11. Needless to say, Balbir Singh Sodhi was not a member of al-Qaeda nor an Islamic extremist. He was a patriotic American citizen who practiced the Sikh religion. He was an honorable man who represented everything that is good about the United States of America.
Balbir Singh Sodhi was born in 1949, in Punjab, India, but resettled to California in 1989 to pursue the American dream and provide a better life for his family. Once in California, Balbir Singh tirelessly worked as a taxi cab driver in Los Angeles and San Francisco to provide for his family. After saving enough money, Balbir Singh relocated his family to Mesa, AZ and purchased the gas station at the posted coordinates. People who knew Balbir Singh describe him as a "quiet, gentle man" and children told stories of how he allowed them to buy candy even if they didn't have enough money.
Balbir Singh Sodhi, like so many of his fellow Americans, was distraught over the horrendous 9-11 attacks and on the morning of his death he went to Costco to purchase an American flag to display at his gas station. While leaving the store, he even stopped to donate $75 to the "9-11 Survivors Fund". Moments later, his life was senselessly taken from him as he was planting flowers in front of his business.
In the days following Balbir Singh's death, the outside of his business became a makeshift shrine featuring candles, letters of condolences, and flowers in an incredible showing of support from the Arizona community in which he was a welcome and loved member. Since then, this beautiful memorial was erected in his honor at the spot where he passed away.
Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link]
Location: Chevron Station
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Visit Instructions:
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