Second Alarmers to Receive World Trade Center Steel

After almost three years of waiting, will bring home a piece of the World Trade Center from New York.

Jamie Haddon, Second Alarmers executive director, said when he saw the opportunity to receive a piece of the towers, he jumped at the chance and applied.

On Wednesday, the 12.5-foot, 3,105-pound artifact will make its way from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to Whitpain Township, concluding at the  with a ceremony to begin around 4 p.m., depending on traffic and travel conditions from New York.

The piece will be incorporated into a memorial at the new Second Alamers station being built next to the Whitpain Township building. An exact location has not yet been determined.

The ceremonial procession, which will include Second Alarmers staff, Whitpain Township Police Department and surrounding emergency service departments, will make its way from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and turn west on Germantown Pike. The procession will turn from Germantown Pike onto Walton Road, then left onto Township Line Road, a right onto Union Meeting Road, a left onto Jolly Road, and a final right on Wentz Road and come to a final rest at the Whitpain Township building, at 960 Wentz Road in Blue Bell.

"Its our hope that people will be along the route and then meet at the township building," said Haddon.

The steel is due to come in on a flatbed truck and will be at the township building for a week and outside for residents and neighbors to come, reflect and enjoy. The piece will then be put in storage until the monument is built.

The monument is expected to be complete by fall and a formal dedication ceremony will be planned for sometime in September.

“It’s the 10th anniversary of 9/11,” said Haddon, “What better time …then right away.”

Haddon said this piece of steel is a special reminder of the sacrifices made by men and women dispatched to the World Trade Centers on Sept. 11, 2001. And, Second Alarmers were one of the few local units to also be dispatched to New York to aid in the 9/11 rescue efforts.

Second Alarmers will be live tweeting on Wednesday during the pick up of the WTC steel at @SecondAlarmers on Twitter and on Facebook.