By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-985239.mp3
Ludlow, MA – Many communities Sunday will dedicate memorials to the people who died on September 11th 2001. A few of these memorials will include an actual piece of the fallen World Trade Center towers. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
Under wraps, for now, in front of the public safety complex in Ludlow Massachusetts sits a memorial that includes a steel beam from the fallen North Tower of the World Trade Center. Ludlow Fire Chief Mark Babineau says the memorial which will be unveiled and formally dedicated this Sunday will honor all who died on 9-11 and after..including those who have lost their lives serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has reportedly received thousands of request for pieces from the World Trade Center. It has donated steel from the fallen buildings to communities in all fifty states and six foreign countries.
Chief Babineau says Ludlow was given the World Trade Center artifact for its memorial earlier this year.
A 12 foot long piece of steel weighing almost 3 thosuand pounds that was once part of the World Trade Center is to be delivered to Springfield just days before the city's annual 9-11 observance. Judy Matt, president of the Spririt of Springfield, the non profit that organizes the annual ceremony says they first applied more than two years ago for a piece of the World Trade Center, and initially were turned down.
The steel will be blessed by clergy during the September 11th remembrance ceremony Sunday at Springfield's Raymond Sullivan Public Safety Complex.
The steel will eventually become part of a permanent memorial that Matt says will likely be located in the city's largest public park, Forest Park.
Springfield Fire Commissioner Gary Cassenelli says it will be very moving to have a piece of the World Trade Center in Springfield..
Springfield's ceremony is scheduled for 10 AM Sunday.. The dedication of the memorial in Ludlow is scheduled for 1PM.