Scene in Edmonds: Putting fire memorial in its place
Posted: September 9, 2015 1412
Fire District 1 firefighters pitch in to prepare footings for placement of the girder from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. With the exception of the crane crew, all the labor to prepare and set the various pieces of the memorial was performed by firefighters. (Photos by Larry Vogel)Firefighters from across Fire District 1 joined Edmonds Station 17 firefighters on Wednesday to pitch in and help get the new 9-11 Memorial completed in time for the formal ceremonies this Friday. The memorial’s centerpiece is a one-ton girder from the ruins of the World Trade Center.
Work on the memorial had been delayed earlier this summer while details of the building permit were ironed out, but these finally were cleared up and since then the firefighters have been going full bore to complete construction in time for this year’s 9-11 observances. On Wednesday afternoon the firefighters were working against the clock to get everything ready for the scheduled concrete pour on Thursday morning.
With the crane holding the beam in place, Edmonds firefighters make last-minute adjustments to the footings.“This memorial honors all who lost their lives in the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but is particularly important for the 434 firefighters and 60 police officers who died that day in the line of duty,” said firefighter Dave “Bronco” Erickson, who has spearheaded the effort to make the Edmonds memorial a reality.
Edmonds firefighter Dave “Bronco” Erickson takes measurements to ensure that the beam is in place. Erickson personally picked up the beam in New York and escorted it back to Edmonds.Erickson added that all are welcome to join in the 9-11 observances at the Edmonds Fire Station, scheduled to start at exactly 11 minutes after 9 on Friday morning. The opening ceremony for the new memorial will include bagpipes, taps performed by Edmonds police officer Debbie Dawson, remarks by Mayor Dave Earling and others, and firefighters in full dress uniforms.
The I-beam will be flanked by two stainless steel and glass panels, containing 3000 individual glass inlays to honor the more than 3000 who lost their lives that day. The police and firefighters who died that day are honored with blue and red inlays respectively, set in an American flag pattern.
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I cannot wait to see it.