Naples artist Gerald A. Ladue, designer of the Collier County Freedom Memorial, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts and graduated from Lynn English High School.  Living in Randolph, Massachusetts at the time of the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Ladue missed the opportunity to submit an entry to the World Trade Center memorial design competition, but discovered in December 2004 that the Collier County Board of County Commissioners was soliciting artists from across the country to design a memorial to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 and to pay tribute to members of the Armed Forces that have fought and are still fighting to defend our freedoms.  Asked by the Board: What does freedom mean to you?  Jerry said it is seeing “our American flag waving forever, over a map of the United States that best expressed his answer.  Mr. Ladue was overwhelmed and greatly appreciative to learn that from all of the designs submitted, his design combined all of the elements that members of the county commission were seeking to incorporate into the memorial.