An artifact from the 9/11 attacks 15 years ago has been given to Albany International Airport. WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas was at the airport Thursday morning when the artifact was officially put on permanent display.
It's a 206-pound rusted piece of steel I-beam recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center, 31 inches long, 15 inches deep, 8 inches high. Bart Johnson is the Federal Security Director of Upstate New York airports. "I'm sure you all remember where you were on September 11th. Probably just like a day like this. If you look out, there's not a cloud in the sky. It's calm, it's dry, the weather is just about right. That peacefulness was shattered and it struck us all to the core when the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. The attack was quickly followed by another plane crashing into the other South tower at 9:03. The Penatgon at 9:37. And the fourth and final flight that crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 after passengers commandeered the plane and bravely took over the controls and intentionally crashed it into that field, thereby preventing it from hitting its ultimate target in Washington, DC."
The Transportation Security Administration at Albany International Airport conducted the unveiling and dedication ceremony. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy urges all Americans "never forget 9/11." "We have a tendency in this nation sometimes to forget what has happened in the past. But this has defined us going forward for the last 15 years and will continue to define our nation as we continue to be at war. So this I-beam is gonna remind people as they walk around the observation deck to really say, wow, take a moment, look at it, read the plaque and reflect back on that day that happened."
John McKenna is the father of Captain John McKenna, who died in 2006 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. McKenna echoed McCoy's sentiments. "I believe we must continually tell the story of the attacks and the efforts of those heroic individuals and groups who tried to save as many they could, both in sacrificing their lives and their efforts."
The artifact is located near the observation deck on the uppermost floor of the airport next to the Military Courtesy Room, which overlooks the TSA checkpoint.
The display case housing the steel beam was provided by the airport.
