Steel Beam from 9/11 South Tower Tours America
A piece of steel weighing nearly 17,000 pounds from the World Trade Center’s South Tower has arrived in Cincinnati. This gives people far from Ground Zero a chance to encounter a historical artifact from 9/11.
“Never forgetting the sacrifice and bravery of our nation’s heroes, as well as our lost loved ones, is a generational promise that every American can help keep,” remarked Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, to Fox News Digital.
The 21-foot steel beam is traveling the nation as part of Tunnel to Towers’ Steel Across America tour, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In Cincinnati, Scott Nokes, a former Marine and Tunnel to Towers ambassador, gathered with local firefighters, members of the FDNY, veterans, first responders, and community members at the Cincinnati Fire Museum.
“I know firsthand what it means to have the Tunnel to Towers Foundation show up for you when you need it most,” Nokes stated. “This foundation changes lives. It changed mine. When I stand before this steel and think about the men and women we lost on September 11, I feel an obligation to make sure their story keeps being told. I am honored to be here today as part of this journey.”
Originally from New Jersey, Nokes served two tours in Afghanistan before moving on to a career in firefighting. In 2016, he suffered septic shock, resulting in him becoming a double below-the-knee amputee and legally blind. Through Tunnel to Towers’ Smart Home Program, he received a custom, mortgage-free home designed for independent living in December 2019.
The event provided guests the opportunity to see the poignant artifact in a ceremony that included a color guard, bagpipes, the national anthem, and a steel flag presentation. Remarks were given by fire and city leaders, and the event featured a blessing of the beam and a moment of silence.
The beam travels as a memorial to those lost and the heroes of 9/11, reaching 21 states to date. After Cincinnati, the tour will continue with stops at West Point on September 1, the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston on September 3, and the White House on September 8, before returning to New York City.
The foundation also offers mortgage-free, fully accessible smart homes for U.S. veterans and first responders who are severely injured. This year, they are honoring the 343 FDNY firefighters who perished on 9/11 by providing 343 mortgage-free homes.