Woodbridge Gathers to Remember 9/11

A  community gathering was held Sunday morning on the front lawn of the Woodbridge Firehouse to respect the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

The ceremony was also intended to unveil and officially incorporate a piece of steel from the World Trade Center that was acquired from the City of New York. The rusted, 600 lb beam sits above a reflective pool and an engraved plaque that reads “Never Forget 9-11-01”.

Beside the monument sat a wreath of red, white and blue. On it was an American flag and a ribbon.   

Its construction was formed from the plans of Mary Baccar, who was selected from seven contestants who submitted project proposals. Baccar was standing below the second tower when it was struck by the airplane.

“When I think back to that day,” Baccar’s statement read, “I think of the imprint that single event left on my life, and the lives of so many around the world.

She adds that her design “represents that by taking the beam and casting it into concrete, leaving the exact imprint of the beam and the damage caused to its flange and connections. Then the beam is lifted back up, ‘floating’ above a shallow reflecting pool. 

“The pool is intended to “provide an element of calm and, as Baccar continues, allows the imprint of the beam to show through.”

 Architect David Stein, Principal/ Project Manager at Silver Petrucilli, was in charge of the project design. The Volunteer Fire Department worked around the clock in the days leading up to Sunday’s event. Several other institutions and people from the Woodbridge Community were responsible for the preparation that went into the monument.

In attendance were First Selectman Sheehan, Senator Crisco and Representative Klarides. In addition, a proclamation from Governor Malloy was read at the event.

After the ceremony, those in attendance were allowed to observe, touch and take photos of the memorial. Refreshments were served in the main hangar of the firehouse.

The memorial can be viewed at the Woodbridge Fire House, located at 100 Center road. Were you at the event? Have you see the memorial? Tell us in the comments section below.