by Jeff Madrid

Beginning in 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns 1800 to 2000 pieces of steel from the World Trade Centers, began to invite police and fire departments and mayors and other leaders of cities and towns throughout the country to ask for pieces of steel from the World Trade Center for memorials.

 In May 2009 Mayor Brian Lankhorst submitted a request to the Port Authority of New York for a specimen of World Trade Center steel that had been recovered from the wreckage at Ground Zero. City Manager Bob Hart announced at the December City Council Meeting that the City’s request was approved.

The steel specimen will be used in a Kennedale memorial honoring the heroes that died in the 9/11/01 terrorist attack. Fire Chief Mike McMurray will chair a city council appointed committee tasked with choosing a site for the memorial. Suggested sites include the fire station, Town Center Plaza, and Sonora Park. The committee will consist of members from the City Council, Park Board, EDC, and Kennedale firefighters.

The memorial will honor the 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene and died as they attempted to rescue people and fight fires. Fire Department New York lost 341 firefighters and 2 paramedics. The New York City Police department lost 23 officers, the Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers, and 8 EMT’s and Paramedic’s from private emergency medical services were killed.

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