A 14-foot-long that once belonged to the north tower of the World Trade Center arrived at its new home at Croton Landing last week. The piece of steel was safely transported from the Continental Village Fire Department to the Reaching Through the Shadow at Croton Landing.
The steel is the feature of the memorial, designed by architect who volunteered his time and expertise. The project, funded by community donations and town and village contributions, to those who were lost on or as a result of the tragic 9/11 attacks and as a standing reminder of the events of that day.
The BCC 9/11 Memorial Task Force has spent many volunteer hours and coordinated effort to have the first phase of the memorial complete by Sept. 11 this year.
Cortlandt resident and Continental Village Volunteer firefighter Bob Pidgeon coordinated the escort of first responders, and was one of several volunteers who worked to mount the base plate to the boulder, to which the beam was bolted on Aug. 27.
The escort was led by New York State Police Trooper C.J. Comstock, who cleared traffic along the route from the Continental Village Volunteer firehouse to the riverfront park location.
Gary Urbanowicz, also a member of the BCC Task Force and an honorary deputy chief, FDNY, drove a vintage 1962 FDNY chief's car, followed by CVFD Chief Charles Valt and fire trucks fm the CVFD and Buchanan and Verplanck Volunteer Fire Departments. At Highland Ave. and Roa Hook Road, the Peekskill FD joined in the procession. At the Buchanan/Montrose entrance to Rte. 9, the Police and Fire Departments and Ambulance Corps from the Village of Croton joined the escort as well.
As a donated service, Rodack's Auto Repair and Towing of Garrison provided the flatbed truck to which the flag-draped steel beam was fastened for the approximately 16-mile trip to Croton Landing.
To read more about the steel girder and plans for the 9/11 BCC Memorial, phase one and two, click here.
A special thanks to Bob Foley, Public Relations Chair, BCC 9/11 Memorial Task Force, for sending this information. Also thanks to Foley, Gary Urbanowicz and James Rhodes for providing photos of the installation.
