9/11 Memorial In Place for Unveiling

Starting at sunup on Monday, a crew installed a twisted piece of steel from the World Trade Center on a pedestal outside the . They then wrapped it in a red, white and blue tarp. It will be unveiled at a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 11, observing the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

On that morning, the tarp will fall to reveal a 2,500-pound piece of burned and damaged steel from the site of America’s worst terrorist attack. On that day, 2,752 people died. 

The 14-foot tall piece was put in place by a crane donated by Trident Building Systems. The New York and New Jersey Port Authority, owners of the World Trade Center, donated the steel.

At the same time, a memorial to Sarasota Police will be unveiled, commemorating Officer Warren Jones, the only Sarasota Police Officer to die in the line of duty.

Others volunteered their time and energy to create the monuments, including Architects’ Design Group, TRC Worldwide Engineering, George F. Young Inc. and Pop’s Painting.  

The unveiling and ceremony is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. At 8:45 a.m., there will be a moment of silence to commemorate the exact moment — 10 years ago — when the first hijacked jetliner crashed into the North Tower. 

Mayor Suzanne Atwell and Police Chief Mikel Holloway will speak, as will retired Police Sgt. Bruce Porter, who served with Jones.