You may have heard about this effort before, but here’s a reminder: The firefighters of Local 1828 are raising money for a memorial to honor all victims of the World Trade Center — and they need your help.
The centerpiece of the memorial is a 1-ton steel beam recovered from Ground Zero. The plan is to enlarge and rebuild the existing “Fallen Firefighter Memorial Park” at Station 17 in downtown Edmonds to accommodate the 1-ton artifact. This memorial will honor the nearly 3,000 people who died on that fateful day, including 343 firefighters and 60 police officers.
The acquisition of the 1-ton beam from Ground Zero was years in the making. In the 11th hour, an agreement with the firefighters of Local 1828, the City of Edmonds, and Snohomish County Fire District 1 satisfied the requirements of the Port Authority of New York. A firefighter from Edmonds/Fire District 1 flew to New York and, with the assistance of FDNY firefighters, shipped the artifact home. You can see My Edmonds News coverage of the beam’s arrival in Edmonds here.
This 1-ton beam is one of the 1,117 artifacts from the World Trade Center released by the Port Authority of New York to be used in memorials across the nation. It can be seen at Fire Station 17, located at 275 6th Ave. N. in downtown Edmonds. It is displayed on the west side of the apparatus bay in front of the antique fire engine.
Local firefighters are tasked with raising the estimated $150,000 for the renovation and construction of this memorial, and they are asking local citizens and businesses to spread awareness and donate to the cause. Per Port Authority requirements, no tax dollars are allowed for the memorial’s completion; as a result, all construction costs will be made by individual, business and corporate donations.
Tax-deductible donations can be sent via U.S. mail to the Fire 1 Foundation, PO Box 12915, Everett WA 98206-2915. You can also donate online and receive more information about the project here. If you would like more information or want to schedule a presentation on this effort for your organization, call firefighter Dave ‘Bronco’ Erickson at 425-422-9099 or email bronco@whidbey.com.
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