Jim Stapf, L-106, installs a stainless steel replica of the World Trade Center’s twin towers on the 911 Steel traveling memorial. Photo courtesy of Fred Anderson
Traveling memorial honors victims of the World Trade Center attack
MEMBERS OF LOCAL 106 (Cincinnati) created a stunning 7-foot replica of the twin towers as an addition to 9/11 Steel, a Cincinnati traveling memorial honoring the victims of 9/11. The original memorial consisted of a 12-foot section of twisted structural steel from the World Trade Center that had been donated to the Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati and maintained by volunteers of the city’s Goodtimers Foundation. For years, the steel had been displayed alone, on a flatbed trailer.
When a member of the Goodtimers approached Jim Stapf, L-106, about enhancing 911 Steel memorial, Stapf asked his employer, Enerfab, for support. With Enerfab’s contribution of materials, and the space to create the towers, L-106 President Tim Parsons and Stapf got to work. Parsons said he and Stapf designed, programmed and used a computer numerical control machine to create the twin tower replicas. For safer travel, they made and mounted hinges so the towers could lie horizontal during transport. They also added a diamond plate to the trailer. According to Parsons, the project took approximately 200 hours to complete.
“It’s important to remember those who lost their lives during 9/11,” said Parsons. “We were honored to contribute our time to the project.”
The newly-renovated 911 Steel memorial was unveiled at a ceremony in Cincinnati March 30. In early April, Parsons and Stapf, along with other volunteers, walked alongside 911 Steel during the Cincinnati Reds opening day parade.
“We are extremely proud of this memorial, and grateful to Enerfab, the Boilermakers and Garden Path Landscape [which provided new lighting for the memorial],” said Paul Weber, a board member with the Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati. “As a retired Cincinnati firefighter who lost two friends in the World Trade Center attacks, the 911 Steel memorial has a special place in my heart.”
If you are interested in seeing the exhibit, visit www.911steel.com for more information.
