A steel beam measuring 21 feet and weighing 16,900 pounds, recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, has made its way to Indianapolis as part of a tour marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The tour, initiated by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, aims to honor the victims and will eventually return the beam to Ground Zero.
On August 19, the beam was showcased at the Indiana War Memorial and Museum during the tour’s 31st stop. Its journey covers over 10,500 miles across 21 states and Washington, D.C., culminating in a final commemoration in New York City on September 11.
Recovered in the aftermath of the attacks by diligent first responders, the beam symbolizes the loss of nearly 3,000 individuals including civilians, firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, and military personnel. Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers, expressed in a press release the profound impact the steel has had on communities nationwide.
“For the past four months, communities across the country have welcomed this sacred piece of American history with incredible emotion,” Siller said.
The Indianapolis tribute included performances from a color guard and a pipes and drums procession, as well as the national anthem by the Voices of the Indianapolis Fire Department, complemented with an invocation led by Chaplain Mike Gatliff. Addresses from Fire Division Chief Tom Neal and Timothy Winslow, retired Major General, highlighted the city’s strong ties to the memory and legacy of September 11.
The ceremony underscored the sacrifices made by Indiana’s own responders and veterans. The state mourns the loss of nine residents on that fateful day, with several members of Indianapolis Task Force One subsequently succumbing to illnesses related to their rescue efforts at Ground Zero.
Marine Corps veteran Scott Nokes, also a Tunnel to Towers recipient, shared thoughts on the importance of public interaction with the steel artifact. He emphasized the emotional and educational value it provides, especially for younger generations who may not remember the attacks.
“Out of the 2,977 lives that were lost, there’s over 1,000 bodies that were never recovered specifically from Ground Zero in New York. Their souls are in that steel, and if you touch it, you feel it,” Nokes said.
The tour’s purpose extends to connecting younger Americans with an event they might have little personal connection to. By showcasing the beam, the Foundation hopes to evoke a deeper understanding beyond textbooks or documentaries.
Following Indianapolis, the beam’s journey included a stop at the Cincinnati Fire Museum and plans visits to West Point, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The steel will eventually return to New York City for its final tribute.
In a poignant reenactment, Frank Siller will lead an event, guiding the steel through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, retracing the path taken by Stephen Siller 25 years ago as he headed toward Ground Zero with 60 pounds of gear strapped to his back. Though the procession will pause before entering the World Trade Center site, the gesture remains symbolic.
Reporter Andrew Mark Miller can be contacted for more information via Twitter or email.