Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with ‘Steel Across America’ Tour

A 21-foot, 16,900-pound steel beam from the World Trade Center’s South Tower reached Indianapolis last month as part of a cross-country journey marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks. This steel beam is on a national tour, organized by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and it will eventually return to Ground Zero in New York City. The tour has spanned 31 stops, including the Indiana War Memorial and Museum, and has traveled over 10,500 miles through 21 states and Washington, D.C.

The beam serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance for the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives on 9/11, including civilians, first responders, and military personnel. First responders salvaged the steel from Ground Zero, and it now represents their brave service and sacrifice.

Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, reflected on the emotional impact of the steel during the tour. “Communities have greeted this piece of history with profound emotion,” Siller stated, watching people interact with the steel, often expressing their emotions through gestures like hugging, praying, or weeping.

For more information about the ‘Steel Across America’ tour, visit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The Indianapolis event featured a color guard, a pipes and drums procession, a national anthem rendition by the Voices of the Indianapolis Fire Department, and an invocation from Mike Gatliff, Fire Department Chaplain. Indianapolis Fire Division Chief Tom Neal and Timothy Winslow, a retired major general, addressed the crowd, speaking about the connection between the city’s first responders, veterans, and the legacy of 9/11.

Jack Kielty, an FDNY Lieutenant and Tunnel to Towers board member commented on the significance of bringing the steel to Indianapolis. He emphasized the deep connection Indiana veterans and first responders have with service, highlighting Indiana’s own ties to the events of 9/11, including the loss of nine Hoosiers and illnesses suffered by members of Indianapolis Task Force One who worked at Ground Zero.

Marine Corps veteran Scott Nokes also shared his thoughts, underscoring the importance of viewing the steel in person. He spoke about the unaccounted souls whose remains were not found in the aftermath of the attacks, saying that touching the steel provides a tangible connection to them.

The tour aims to connect younger generations with the historical event, offering a direct link that goes beyond traditional learning methods. After its stop in Indianapolis, the steel visited the Cincinnati Fire Museum and will make final appearances in West Point, Boston, and Washington, D.C., before heading back to New York City.

Upon returning to New York City, the steel will be carried through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel by Frank Siller and others, replicating the final journey of Stephen Siller on the day of the attacks. Though it will pass through the tunnel, the beam will not enter the World Trade Center site.