9/11 Memorial

This was a beautiful tribute by the Indianapolis Fire Company next door. The beams are actually from one of the towers and the eagle on top of the one beam faces due east, out of respect. This was a lovely gesture by the Fire Company and is a very tasteful exhibit worth visiting.

The inspirational Indianapolis ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial is a must visit whether you are a first time visitor or a permanent resident. There is NO admission charge and you can go to the ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial any time (²⁴⁄₇) and as often as you like. The street level location is convenient to drive or walk to at 421 West Ohio Street next door to the Indianapolis Fire Station 13 (corner of Ohio and West Street). Due to the tenaciousness of the Project 911 Team and Main Lead, Greg Hess, an Indianapolis firefighter and paramedic, we now have a permanent memorial dedicated to those lost during the ⁹⁄₁₁ attacks. Another point of interest is the ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial was funded entirely by private donations and fundraisers with the entire project paid in full before the unveiling on September 11, 2011.
We’re asked many questions when we take visitors to the ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial. I’ve added info around a few of those asked.
Greg Hess, the driving force of this project, was a member of the Indiana Task Force (ITF) and one of the first rescue teams to arrive at Ground Zero in 2001. The ITF remained at Ground Zero for 8 days assisting the rescue and recovery efforts. After all he, the ITF team, along with hundreds of others endured at Ground Zero I appreciate and respect his determination to build a ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial in Indianapolis. Indianapolis is the 2^nd largest city for memorials and historical landmarks honoring veterans, after Washington D.C. It feels reasonable and customary that Indianapolis establish a ⁹⁄₁₁ monument to memorialize and honor the victims and heroes of this horrendous terrorist attack on our country. Yes, permanent memorials are being constructed around the world but I think you’ll agree the Indianapolis memorial was well designed, thoughtfully planned and is a stunning tribute.
The ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial is striking and deeply moving overlooking the canal with our city back drop to reflect against. The memorial consists of two large 11,000 pound steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Greg Hess petitioned and obtained the recovered steel beams from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Perched atop one of the beams is a spectacular bronze, life-​size sculpture of an American Bald Eagle with wings outstretched and staring east toward New York City. Visitors can actually touch two of the steel beams from the wreckage of the World Trade Center! Touching the beams certainly brings a rush of emotions and memories I didn’t expect. The first time I visited I could smell the smoke embedded into the beams and it was hard to maintain my composure. Images of the vast destruction with hundreds of tireless rescue and recovery teams, miles of missing loved ones photos posted with people and property all covered in tons of gray ash flooded back immediately. The majority of the population today still vividly remembers this tragedy with live and raw emotions. The images are embedded in most adult’s memories but for our younger children this is a non-​threatening educational moment to share the history of ⁹⁄₁₁.
Behind the beams is a pair of six-​foot tall black granite walls engraved with memories of the attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 4 small individual statues are located at the entrance of the ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial. Each collectively tells the timeline and history of each attack with the time stamp, locations and image of each site inscribed into each black granite statue. Three stone benches are provided at the Memorial for those who need to sit or wish to stay longer.
Now you may be asking yourself how Hess got the steel beams from the JFK Airport to Indianapolis. This time Hess approached Sodrel Trucking to donate a semi-​truck to transport this precious cargo and they graciously accepted this honor. Before the truck left Indianapolis Dream Street Graphics embellished the semi-​truck with an appropriate custom vehicle wrap they created and donated for the journey. Of course, this deliver was historical and folks along the route wanted a glimpse of the actual beams from the World Trade Center. Wherever they traveled lines of people formed along the road side to pay their respects to this unfathomable tribute being transported to Indianapolis. Not only did folks line the route along the way but OVER 11,000 bikers escorted the ⁹⁄₁₁ semi-​truck carrying the memorial beams to Indianapolis. The biker’s procession was extraordinary, respectful and ever inspiring display of patriotism at almost 50 miles in length. I’m sure the Indy Project team and Greg Hess had to feel the love, recognition and admiration from the community and State for all they accomplished and endured for Indianapolis to have a ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial to honor those killed on that devastating day. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!