A 21-foot steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center has reached the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This arrival brings a tangible piece of the September 11 attacks to an institution known for training Army officers who served in the subsequent wars. The 16,900-pound beam is part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Steel Across America tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the attacks. West Point was the tour’s 33rd stop.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. James B. Bartholomees III highlighted the enduring connection between the courage of first responders on 9/11 and those who served afterward, including numerous West Point graduates. “Today, young men and women continue that legacy of service, guided by Duty, Honor, Country,” Bartholomees stated.
The ceremonial event gathered cadets, faculty, staff, and guests. It commenced with a color guard and Pipes & Drums procession featuring members of the NYPD, FDNY, and Port Authority Police Department. The program included the national anthem, an invocation and blessing of the steel, and a reflective moment with “Amazing Grace.”
Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers and brother of fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, remembered his brother’s actions on 9/11. Stephen Siller carried 60 pounds of gear through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the towers, where he lost his life responding to the attacks.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was established in Stephen’s memory. The organization provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, builds smart homes for severely injured veterans and first responders, and addresses veteran homelessness.
First responders and Army personnel attended, reflecting the bond between those who rushed toward danger and those who served in the wars that followed. Col. Dan Steuwe of the U.S. Army shared an image held by soldiers after 9/11, depicting a fireman handing an American flag to a service member, symbolizing unity between first responders and service members committed to protecting the country.
Attendees, including Kelly Heffner, a supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, expressed emotional responses upon touching the beam, feeling its powerful reminder to never forget the events of September 11.
The beam’s presence at West Point arrives almost 25 years after the attacks spurred American service members into action in theaters like Afghanistan and Iraq during the war on terror. As the ceremony concluded, Bartholomees joined Siller to accept a commemorative steel flag representing the New York City skyline and Twin Towers, made from World Trade Center steel, acknowledging West Point’s commitment to the Foundation’s mission.
The Steel Across America tour is set to continue at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston. Jasmine Baehr of Fox News Digital covers breaking news in politics, the military, and cultural discussions.