POUGHKEEPSIE – A length of beam salvaged from World Trade Center in Manhattan is going to be donated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to the City of Poughkeepsie.
Hundreds of communities around the nation have requested and received pieces of steel beams, which are integrated into community memorials dedicated to the memories of those killed in the 9/11 attacks.
The Poughkeepsie beam was requested by the Kiwanis Club, but must be accepted by the city and questions arose at Tuesday night’s council meeting as to any possible cost to build a memorial and the length of the beam.
Councilwoman ShaRon McClinton took exception with that line of questioning.
“It is a great honor, and regardless of the size and we also had our previous mayor who lost her spouse there, so the bickering on where it will be placed and the size I think is insignificant, is to accept it and appreciate being given that honor,” McClinton said.
Former Mayor Colette Lafuente, who was in office at the time of the attacks, lost her husband, Juan, who went to work in New York that morning and was never heard from since.