The 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City have come and gone, but there will be a constant reminder in Meaford.
A twisted, rusted and wrecked steel support beam from Ground Zero was unveiled infront the building Meaford Fire Hall during a somber and moving ceremony on Tuesday night.
They are one of only six places in Canada to receive a 20 foot, one tonne beam — which once held one of the twin towers in place.
Members of the public, council, police and fire departments were all on hand Tuesday night to celebrate and commemorate.
Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller spoke — saying there’s no telling if the beam was from the 5th, 15th or 50th floor of the World Trade Centre.
Meaford and District Fire Chief Mike Molloy lead the ceremony.
Molloy says he had no idea the emotional impact this beam would have until it arrived last October.
He says after a long two and a half years of negotiations with the New York Port Authority he’s glad it’s finally in Meaford and on display.
Molloy says the memorial has special meaning to everyone – and everyone remembers exactly where they were the day the Twin Towers fell.
The Meaford Fire Department has visited Ground Zero and made the trip to New York.
Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson says this is the second 9/11 memorial Meaford has held.
The other was the year after the attack — at Beautiful Joe Park, remembering the canine units who also were at Ground Zero.
A committee of firefighters hired to a landscape architect to display the beam.
It now sits surrounded by stones, plant life, and one tree matching the rust of the beam – on the front lawn of the Meaford and District Fire Hall.