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Slideshow: Thousands gather for dedication of Collier Memorial

Ceremony marks official opening of granite structure in honor of MIT officer slain in 2013.
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Situated on the site where Officer Sean Collier was killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial is composed of 32 blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault. The smooth, curved vault contains the inscription: “In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013.”
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Caption: Situated on the site where Officer Sean Collier was killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial is composed of 32 blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault. The smooth, curved vault contains the inscription: “In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013.”
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
Officers salute moments before a convoy of four MIT Police cruisers pulled away from the Collier Memorial, symbolically opening it to the MIT community.
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Caption: Officers salute moments before a convoy of four MIT Police cruisers pulled away from the Collier Memorial, symbolically opening it to the MIT community.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
During the Pledge of Allegiance at today's dedication of the Collier Memorial: (from left) John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police; Cambridge Mayor David Maher; MIT President L. Rafael Reif; and MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz.
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Caption: During the Pledge of Allegiance at today's dedication of the Collier Memorial: (from left) John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police; Cambridge Mayor David Maher; MIT President L. Rafael Reif; and MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
Sean Collier's brother, Rob Rogers — who worked on the memorial for construction manager Suffolk Construction — was among many family members in attendance today.
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Caption: Sean Collier's brother, Rob Rogers — who worked on the memorial for construction manager Suffolk Construction — was among many family members in attendance today.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
Professor Meejin Yoon, head of MIT's Department of Architecture, designed the Collier Memorial.
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Caption: Professor Meejin Yoon, head of MIT's Department of Architecture, designed the Collier Memorial.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
Attendees gathered around and inside the newly opened Collier Memorial at the conclusion of today's ceremony.
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Caption: Attendees gathered around and inside the newly opened Collier Memorial at the conclusion of today's ceremony.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
Israel Ruiz, MIT's Executive Vice President and Treasurer (center), shook hands with John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police, following the dedication ceremony.
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Caption: Israel Ruiz, MIT's Executive Vice President and Treasurer (center), shook hands with John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police, following the dedication ceremony.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
MIT President L. Rafael Reif and his wife, Christine, greeted members of the MIT Police after the ceremony.
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Caption: MIT President L. Rafael Reif and his wife, Christine, greeted members of the MIT Police after the ceremony.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
The smooth, curved vault of the granite memorial is supported by five radial walls. Members of the MIT community gathered around and inside the structure following today's ceremony.
Download Image
Caption: The smooth, curved vault of the granite memorial is supported by five radial walls. Members of the MIT community gathered around and inside the structure following today's ceremony.
Credits: Photo: Dominick Reuter
An aerial view of the Collier Memorial.
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Caption: An aerial view of the Collier Memorial.
Credits: Photo: Iwan Baan

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Situated on the site where Officer Sean Collier was killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial is composed of 32 blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault. The smooth, curved vault contains the inscription: “In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013.”
Caption:
Situated on the site where Officer Sean Collier was killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial is composed of 32 blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault. The smooth, curved vault contains the inscription: “In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013.”
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
Officers salute moments before a convoy of four MIT Police cruisers pulled away from the Collier Memorial, symbolically opening it to the MIT community.
Caption:
Officers salute moments before a convoy of four MIT Police cruisers pulled away from the Collier Memorial, symbolically opening it to the MIT community.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
During the Pledge of Allegiance at today's dedication of the Collier Memorial: (from left) John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police; Cambridge Mayor David Maher; MIT President L. Rafael Reif; and MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz.
Caption:
During the Pledge of Allegiance at today's dedication of the Collier Memorial: (from left) John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police; Cambridge Mayor David Maher; MIT President L. Rafael Reif; and MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
Sean Collier's brother, Rob Rogers — who worked on the memorial for construction manager Suffolk Construction — was among many family members in attendance today.
Caption:
Sean Collier's brother, Rob Rogers — who worked on the memorial for construction manager Suffolk Construction — was among many family members in attendance today.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
Professor J. Meejin Yoon, head of MIT's Department of Architecture, designed the Collier Memorial.
Caption:
Professor J. Meejin Yoon, head of MIT's Department of Architecture, designed the Collier Memorial.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
Attendees gathered around and inside the newly opened Collier Memorial at the conclusion of today's ceremony.
Caption:
Attendees gathered around and inside the newly opened Collier Memorial at the conclusion of today's ceremony.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
Israel Ruiz, MIT's Executive Vice President and Treasurer (center), shook hands with John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police, following the dedication ceremony.
Caption:
Israel Ruiz, MIT's Executive Vice President and Treasurer (center), shook hands with John DiFava, MIT's director of campus services and chief of police, following the dedication ceremony.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
MIT President L. Rafael Reif and his wife, Christine, greeted members of the MIT Police after the ceremony.
Caption:
MIT President L. Rafael Reif and his wife, Christine, greeted members of the MIT Police after the ceremony.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter
The smooth, curved vault of the granite memorial is supported by five radial walls. Members of the MIT community gathered around and inside the structure following today's ceremony.
Caption:
The smooth, curved vault of the granite memorial is supported by five radial walls. Members of the MIT community gathered around and inside the structure following today's ceremony.
Credits:
Photo: Dominick Reuter

Thousands of members of the MIT community gathered today for the dedication of the Institute’s memorial to Sean Collier, the MIT police officer who was killed in the line of duty two years ago this month.

Attendees heard remarks from Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz; President L. Rafael Reif; Cambridge Mayor David Maher; John DiFava, director of campus services and chief of police; and Professor J. Meejin Yoon, head of the Department of Architecture, who designed the memorial.

Situated on the site where Collier was shot and killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial is composed of 32 blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault. Inspired by the shape of an open hand, the vault is supported by five radial walls.

The smooth, curved vault contains the inscription: “In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013.” Carved into a south-facing wall on one of the radial arms is a quote from a eulogy delivered by Rob Rogers, Collier’s brother, at an MIT memorial service on April 24, 2013: “Live long like he would. Big hearts, big smiles, big service, all love.”

In the program for today’s event, Yoon described the structure as follows: “The vaulted design of the Sean Collier Memorial embodies structural principles in its material configuration and symbolizes generosity as service. This didactic visualization of forces is consistent with MIT’s ethos of openness and transparency, while the idea that all five walls are needed to achieve a stable form is symbolic of a community coalescing to commemorate a loss. The permanent Collier Memorial will offer our community the opportunity to remember Officer Collier’s life and to honor his service as it reminds us of our values: openness in the face of threat, unity through diversity, and strength through community.”

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