9/11, Ten Years Later: Twin Towers Steel's Public Debut at Tosafest

In July, when the finally received an artifact of the World Trade Center attack after a two-year wait, firefighters and chiefs hoped to be able to get a permanent display for it built at headquarters Station No. 1 by this weekend.

The plan was to have a dedication ceremony at the firehouse on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, with the artifact on view in an appropriately designed setting.

That didn't happen; there just wasn't the time or money to get it done right.

And perhaps that's just as well. Since the twisted and tortured steel reminder of the tragedy is still portable, the firefighters decided to place it front and center on their annual charity stage at Tosafest starting Friday.

So, Tosa's Twin Towers steel I-beam will get its first public viewing in front of thousands, along with the opportunity for festival visitors to help families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attack.

Typically, the Firefighters' Union Charity Fund raises money for a variety of national and local causes and even for individuals in need. This year, because of the anniversary, the firefighters turned to one of their own for ideas on how to focus the fundraising event on 9/11 and its victims.

Firefighter Dan Shepherd has made it his personal cause ever since 2001 to remember and memorialize the 343 New York firefighters and nearly 3,000 others who perished at Ground Zero, at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field after the hijacking of four jetliners by terrorists.

Shepherd wears his "Never Forget" wristband constantly, and he designed a special 9/11 logo incorporated into the official symbol of the Tosa Fire Department. He sells the wristbands and T-shirts displaying the logo to keep memories alive.

Shepherd suggested two 9/11 charities, the Twin Towers Orphan Fund and America’s Child Fund, to be beneficiaries of part of the proceeds from this year's Tosafest fundraiser.

Shepherd also dived into planning and helping out with the expanded event, among other things scrounging up a large portable display case for the steel artifact to mount on the stage. Other firefighters volunteered their talents at welding and carpentry to rebuild the display to accommodate the I-beam, and were working feverishly Wednesday in spare time and off-hours to get it completed.

Visitors can expect to be a bit awed by the sight. Tosa's artifact is no common piece of steel, said Assistant Chief Bill Rice, who applied for it from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

"I had begun to feel a little dismayed when we waited two years and heard nothing," Rice said. "And during that time, I saw some of the pieces that other departments were getting and, while they're all impressive just because you know what they represent, most were just short, straight pieces of beams.

"I was out when it arrived, and I got a call from a firefighter at the station. 'It's here,' he said, and his voice was so choked up. The moment I saw it, I knew why.

"It has so much — I guess I'd say, character. It seems to speak what happened."

The firefighters' stage and the artifact will not be hard to find at the festival. Just look up for the red, white and blue.

"We also are getting this enormous American flag from Irish Fest," Shepherd said. "We're going to fly it from a 110-foot aerial ladder."

Tosa's new fire chief, Rob Ugaste, will be the featured speaker at a special 9/11 memorial ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday, Shepherd said.

Shepherd said he expected some of Ugaste's remarks to also be directed toward the service men and women of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as a reflection of America's reaction to the attack.

As usual, the firefighters will operate the always popular dunk tank, and this year both Ugaste and Firefighters Union President Capt. Gary Webb have agreed to be dunkees. Shepherd was still working the phones Wednesday lining up other local personalities, including Tosa aldermen, to go into the drink.

This year, the firefighters are also raffling off a 2011 Polaris 800 EFI ATV ($7,500 value) and a Milwaukee power tool combo kit ($750 value) along with other prizes.

Direct cash donations are also accepted as firefighters encourage you to "fill the boot," and Shepherd's wristbands and T-shirts will be for sale.

The firefighters' stage and activities will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday.