World Trade Center beams arrive in Kitsap County
SILVERDALE, Wash. -- Draped in an American flag and surrounded by a motorcycle escort consisting of hundreds of riders, two steel beams from the World Trade Center arrived here Sunday afternoon.
A large crowd gathered, snapping pictures as the pieces of steel from Ground Zero completed their 3,000-mile trip from New York. (View photos >>>)
"It's a heartfelt moment for me personally," said Bremerton Fire Department Lt. Lonell Williams, who lost a friend in the September 11 attacks.
"Even though that happened back in 2001, it's still very deep in my heart and I'm sure it's deep in a lot of people's hearts out here today," he said.
The families of the September 11 victims and the Port Authority of New York awarded Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue with the beams to be used in a memorial that will pay tribute to those lost in the terror attack.
The beams are 24 feet long and weight about 5,000 pounds each. Organizers don't know which tower they came from and say crews in New York told them it's impossible to find out.
After the beams arrived, spectators took time to touch twisted pieces of metal and remember those who died.
"I'm heartfelt and very, very appreciative for everyone who had given their lives for our freedom and it makes me very emotional," said Becky Buchanan.
Ken Rogers stopped by with his young daughter and took pictures of her in front of the beams.
"She touches it, she feels it. She becomes a part of it. She wasn't alive (when the attacks happened). But she'll understand what happened," Rogers said. "It's a sense of pride."
The beams will also be on display at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede in Bremerton from August 25-29.
For more information
http://www.kitsap911memorial.org/
A large crowd gathered, snapping pictures as the pieces of steel from Ground Zero completed their 3,000-mile trip from New York. (View photos >>>)
"It's a heartfelt moment for me personally," said Bremerton Fire Department Lt. Lonell Williams, who lost a friend in the September 11 attacks.
"Even though that happened back in 2001, it's still very deep in my heart and I'm sure it's deep in a lot of people's hearts out here today," he said.
The families of the September 11 victims and the Port Authority of New York awarded Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue with the beams to be used in a memorial that will pay tribute to those lost in the terror attack.
The beams are 24 feet long and weight about 5,000 pounds each. Organizers don't know which tower they came from and say crews in New York told them it's impossible to find out.
After the beams arrived, spectators took time to touch twisted pieces of metal and remember those who died.
"I'm heartfelt and very, very appreciative for everyone who had given their lives for our freedom and it makes me very emotional," said Becky Buchanan.
Ken Rogers stopped by with his young daughter and took pictures of her in front of the beams.
"She touches it, she feels it. She becomes a part of it. She wasn't alive (when the attacks happened). But she'll understand what happened," Rogers said. "It's a sense of pride."
The beams will also be on display at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede in Bremerton from August 25-29.
For more information
http://www.kitsap911memorial.org/