Arlington firefighters pick up girder from World Trade Center for 9/11 memorial

ARLINGTON — A steel beam from the World Trade Center recovered following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is on its way to Arlington.

Four Arlington firemen left town Sunday morning, drove across the country and arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport Tuesday morning just in

time for their appointment to pick it up.

The firefighters then got a tour of the site of the Sept. 11 attacks and the nearby downtown Manhattan fire station.

“This entire experience has been unreal,” said Dan Hargroves, one of the firefighters. “I had never been to New York before. We were blown away about how well we were treated by FDNY and everybody else. And it was hard to keep from getting choked up at ground zero.”

The firefighters are volunteering their time for the trip. The city is paying for food and gas.

The New York Fire Department hosted the men at the Fort Totten fire station and training grounds in Queens. There the Arlington firefighters showered and changed into their dress uniforms for the formal transfer of ownership of the steel beam at the airport’s Hangar 17. That’s where the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has stored pieces of the World Trade Center.

The men hope they can return to Arlington before noon on Saturday. An escort parade is planned.

City officials also hope the steel beam can be displayed by the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 for the dedication of the renovated Station 46 in downtown Arlington.

The 4,373-pound chunk of metal the firemen are towing home on a borrowed flatbed trailer is one of many being distributed free to fire departments across the country for use in memorials to honor the victims of the attacks, including the hundreds of firefighters who died.

“We plan to stop and sleep for awhile somewhere and we’re also going to stop at Mount Rushmore to photograph the steel out in front of the mountain,” Hargroves said. “People on the interstates have been great, yelling and waving hello.”

Other firefighters on the trip are Kirk Normand, Brian Price and Jason Abrahamson.

Those who want to donate to the construction of a monument to hold the 13-foot-long piece of history are asked to call the Arlington Fire Department at 360-403-3600.

You can watch the progress of delivery crew on their Facebook page, Arlington, WA Fire Dept 9-11 Memorial.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

A grave marker for Blaze the horse. (Photo provided)
After Darrington woman’s horse died, she didn’t know what to do

Sidney Montooth boarded her horse Blaze. When he died, she was “a wreck” — and at a loss as to what to do with his remains.

A fatal accident the afternoon of Dec. 18 near Clinton ended with one of the cars involved bursting into flames. The driver of the fully engulfed car was outside of the vehicle by the time first responders arrived at the scene. (Whidbey News-Times/Submitted photo)
Driver sentenced in 2021 crash that killed Everett couple

Danielle Cruz, formerly of Lynnwood, gets 17½ years in prison. She was impaired by drugs when she caused the crash that killed Sharon Gamble and Kenneth Weikle.

A person walks out of the Everett Clinic on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Everett Clinic changing name to parent company Optum in 2024

The parent company says the name change will not affect quality of care for patients in Snohomish County.

Tirhas Tesfatsion (GoFundMe) 20210727
Lynnwood settles for $1.7 million after 2021 suicide at city jail

Jail staff reportedly committed 16 safety check violations before they found Tirhas Tesfatsion, 47, unresponsive in her cell.

Diane Kay Thompson, center, listens during their sentencing at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Marysville woman sentenced to 2 years for running over, killing husband

Diane Thompson pleaded guilty to manslaughter. “My home was taken, my daughters hate me and I have no money to my name,” she said.

The Marysville Municipal Jail is pictured Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville weighs mandatory jail time for repeated ‘public disorder’

The “three strikes” proposal sets a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail for crimes like public drug use and trespassing.

Cash is used for a purchase at Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Edmonds, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
County Council delays vote on requiring businesses to take cash

Concerns over information and enforcement postponed the council’s scheduled vote on the ordinance Wednesday in Snohomish County.

Thrill-seekers fly through the air on a ride during opening day of the Evergreen State Fair on Thursday, August 24, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Evergreen State Fair attendance dips 9% from 2022

Slightly over 228,000 people attended the fair this year in Monroe, down from 253,000 last year and 355,000 in 2019.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Darrington in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
New fire east of Darrington closes stretch of rural road

The Tenas Creek fire, which started late last week, was 90% contained Wednesday after burning 38 acres.

Most Read