A piece of the World Trade Center's South Tower is on a national tour, making a stop at Boston's Fenway Park this week as the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The 21-foot steel beam, recovered from Ground Zero, is part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's Steel Across America tour, which began in May and is scheduled to conclude in New York City shortly after September 11.
The display has evoked emotional responses from visitors, many of whom shared personal connections to the events of 9/11. David Littlefield, a vendor at Fenway Park, described the experience as chilling, recalling how his wife lost a roommate in the attacks. Another attendee shared that she worked for American Airlines for 30 years and had frequently worked on flights that later became Flight 11 and Flight 77.
The 16,900-pound beam's tour aims to honor the memory of first responders and those lost on 9/11. The beam was recently displayed at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where Lt. Gen. James B. Bartholomees III spoke about its significance. He noted that the steel connects the courage of those who responded on 9/11 with the generations of Americans who have since answered the call to serve.
Following its stop in Boston, the beam was scheduled to be featured at the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial. The tour is set to continue to the nation's capital for a private event on Friday, followed by another private event in Brooklyn on September 11. The beam's journey will conclude with an appearance at the New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium on September 13.