A 21-foot steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center arrived at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Tuesday. The beam, weighing 16,900 pounds, is part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Steel Across America tour, a nationwide commemoration marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. James B. Bartholomees III stated that the steel connects the courage of first responders on 9/11 with the Americans who answered the call to serve in the subsequent years, including generations of West Point graduates. "Today, young men and women continue that legacy of service, guided by Duty, Honor, Country," he said.
The ceremony featured a color guard and Pipes & Drums procession by members of the NYPD, FDNY, and Port Authority Police Department. It also included the national anthem, an invocation, and a moment of reflection.
Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers and brother of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, spoke about his brother’s actions on Sept. 11, 2001. "Twenty-five years ago, my brother Stephen strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward danger, duty, and the people who needed him inside those towers," Siller said. He added that the foundation is grateful to West Point for hosting the event and remains committed to ensuring the sacrifice of Sept. 11 is not forgotten.
Stephen Siller, a firefighter, died while responding to the attacks after running toward the World Trade Center carrying 60 pounds of gear. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, established in his memory, provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families, builds adapted homes for injured veterans and first responders, and addresses veteran homelessness.
For some attendees, the beam’s arrival at West Point symbolized the connection between first responders and service members who deployed overseas. Col. Dan Steuwe of the U.S. Army recalled an image that resonated with soldiers in his platoon: a firefighter handing off the American flag to a service member emerging from the rubble of the towers. Steuwe described the image as a symbol of unity between first responders and service members who were "serving something greater than ourselves and protecting this country."
Kelly Heffner described the emotional impact of touching the beam, saying, "To touch that beam, there’s an energy with it and it brings you back and it — you know that you can never forget."
The beam's presence at West Point comes nearly 25 years after the attacks spurred a generation of American service members to deploy to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other regions during the war on terror.
Bartholomees and Siller received a commemorative steel flag on behalf of West Point, which incorporates World Trade Center steel and features the New York City skyline and Twin Towers. Attendees were invited to approach the beam for reflection after the formal program.
The Steel Across America tour is scheduled to continue on Thursday at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston. 
