Westerville Pays Tribute to First Responders

A piece of World Trade Center steel 18 feet long, 8 feet wide and weighing 2 tons was escorted up State St.(S.R. 3) as part of Westerville's 9/11 tribute.

During the 15 minute procession, the steel was saluted by area police, fire/EMS and dispatch personnel and was gazed upon by school children and Central Ohio residents.

At noon, a ceremony honored those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; the New York City personnel who worked to save them and local First Responders that put their lives on the line everyday in their own communities.

The ceremony was highlighted by the Westerville Fire Department Pipes and Drums and a children's choir from Annehurst Elementary.

The steel, knows as C-40, was part of the impact site of the first plane that hit the buildings on September 11, 2001.

C-40 was picked up from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Md two weeks ago.  This piece was part of the federal investigation into the collapse of the Towers. It once spanned the 98th-100th floors on the north face of WTC 1 which was struck by a 767 aircraft at 8:46am that day.

Fire Fighter/Medic Tom Ullom, waded through 7 years of red tape to secure a piece of World Trade Center steel for Westerville. Many people have donated their services to place C-40 in the park upon its completion.