AUDUBON — The Audubon Fire Department (AFD) unveiled and dedicated its 9/11 Memorial on July 4. The memorial is situated next to the Audubon Firehouse, located at 221 W. Merchant St. in Audubon. Honored speakers at the July 4 dedication included Congressman Donald Norcross, Audubon resident; Lou Giaccardo, who was working on the 87th floor of the North Tower and retired FDNY Lt. William Bach,...
AUDUBON -- The Audubon Fire Department (AFD) unveiled and dedicated its 9/11 Memorial on July 4. The memorial is situated next to the Audubon Firehouse, located at 221 W. Merchant St. in Audubon.
Honored speakers at the July 4 dedication included Congressman Donald Norcross, Audubon resident; Lou Giaccardo, who was working on the 87th floor of the North Tower and retired FDNY Lt. William Bach, from Ladder 119 Brooklyn, N.Y., who responded on recall. Both shared their experiences from that harrowing day.
The centerpiece of the memorial is a steel and concrete anchor point from Tower 1 (North Tower) of the World Trade Center (WTC). The 7,000 pound piece is unique because it represents more than the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The steel beams from the parking garage of Tower 1, sustained damage in a terrorist attack on Feb. 26, 1993, in which, six people died and more than 1,000 others were injured. Mending plates, which are welded and bolted to the steel, show the repairs from that attack.
The AFD acquired the piece of steel through a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey program. Over 2,200 artifacts were recovered from the World Trade Center site. The Port Authority distributed them to civic agencies interested in creating memorials. Past AFD Chief John Carpenter, chairman of the AFD 9/11 Memorial, spearheaded the project. "It was an incredible group effort," Carpenter said. "Everyone in the department pitched in to make this happen. And the community support was amazing. Every craftsman and trade I asked to help build the memorial, donated their time." In addition to the volunteers, a grant from the Estate of Joan DeClement covered all other expenses.
Surrounding the steel anchor point are replicas of the two WTC towers, a waterfall, and benches. AFD Chief Art Johansen said, "This is a fine tribute to everyone who lost their lives that day. But especially to our brave brothers of the FDNY." The other sites of the 9/11 attacks are also represented in Audubon's memorial. The steel anchor point is seated on a pentagon shaped platform, honoring the lives lost from Flight 77 striking the Pentagon. The site where Flight 93 was downed is now a National Park. "We have petitioned the Park Service for a soil sample to include in our memorial," Johansen added.
Audubon Commissioners and Mayor John Ward were also in attendance for the dedication. "It is an honor for our town to have this 9/11 memorial," Mayor Ward said. "I invite all residents to visit and reflect on that day. We will never forget."
This item submitted by the Audubon Fire Department.