Even with gloomy weather, residents and families of the Haddonfield community turned out in bunches to attend not only Haddonfield’s annual Fire Prevention Night, but also a special dedication ceremony for the newly installed World Trade Center memorial on Oct. 10.
Standing high on a brick platform, the memorial is represented by a piece of warped steel from the World Trade Center and sits in front of the Haddon Fire Company for all to see as they drive down Haddon Avenue.
The steel was brought to Haddonfield in the beginning of September, and the memorial was installed just in time for the 12th anniversary of 9/11.
Opening with a prayer, the memorial service began with words from Battalion Chief Martin Ford of the New York Fire Department.
Ford had been off-duty at the time of the 9/11 attacks, and while he had learned fellow members of Ladder 131 had made it safely from the towers before they collapsed, he found that others were not so lucky.
“My heart goes out. We will never forget,” Ford said.
Ford said after the dedication ceremony that while he had attended many dedication ceremonies in New York, this was his first in New Jersey.
While it is now 12 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred, Ford said it is “still very heartbreaking,” but feels good knowing the steel is serving as a “physical reminder” of the events that transpired that day.
Haddon Fire Chief Joe Riggs extended his gratitude to Haddon Fire Company President Butch Brees and those involved in bringing the piece of steel to Haddonfield.
“At first, we were wondering if it would ever get done,” Riggs said, attesting to the amount of paperwork and time involved in obtaining the steel.
Attending with fellow commissioners Neal Rochford and John Moscatelli, Mayor Kasko also extended his gratitude to Riggs and Brees during the dedication
ceremony and reminisced on the World Trade Center prior to the attacks on 9/11.
“When I was a young boy, growing up in North Jersey, I watched them build the twin towers,” Kasko said.
Kasko stated that having a memorial for those who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center meant two things to him. The first, being that Haddonfield now had a piece of history, while the second being the symbolism.
“This is a constant reminder,” Kasko said. “We have a piece of that day.”
Toward the end of the dedication ceremony, Brees awarded each individual who had helped create the memorial with a plaque, including sculptor and Haddonfield resident John Giannotti.
“From each angle, it gives a unique perspective,” Brees said.
He explained that among the contorted steel were many likenesses, as some people saw the wing of an eagle. He explained that Giannotti saw a torso with outstretched arms.
With the entire process spanning nine months, Brees explained that he had received word that Haddonfield would be receiving a piece of steel three months after the initial paperwork was filed. However, it took a few rounds of paperwork before they could pick up the piece of steel, including a transaction agreement and proof of insurance with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Even then, the Port Authority only allows for steel pickups once a month.
“There were about five pickups that day,” Brees said as he recalled making the drive up to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
He added that one group waiting to receive its steel from JFK came all the way from Florida with a flatbed trailer to pick up a length of steel that once supported a large metal globe.
With pieces of steel obtained in neighboring towns, Brees explained that Haddon Fire Company’s steel is very unique in the fact that it is not a steel beam, but a solid piece of metal. Yet, just how it became contorted is unknown.
“They really don’t know where it came from, but they know it came from the North Tower,” Brees said.
Brees said the piece of steel is one of more than 1,300, sent all over the world. He added that many U.S. embassies in countries all over also have their own piece of World Trade Center steel.
“I’m proud that this station has a constant reminder to never forget,” Brees said.
