Resurrecting 10 years - St. James 9/11 Memorial

By Matt Weber

Less than two months away from arguably the most memorable and somber day in recent American history, the Saint James Fire Department is erecting a memorial in commemoration of the 10 year anniversary of September 11^.  

The memorial, which includes a 14,000 pound piece of metal recovered from the tragic event, is a tribute to all the lives lost that day, including Doug Oelschlager, a Saint James resident, who was one of the first responders from Ladder Company 15. Individuals and businesses around the community have been very involved in helping to bring the memorial to fruition.

Head of the memorial committee and local fireman Tom Donahue is reminded of what it was like days after the attacks on the World Trade Center.  “The community has been outstanding…it reminds me of the days following 9/11, everybody was united, there was no democratic or republican,” said Donahue.  “Everyone was just patriotic, and everyone came down and helped out.”

What was first estimated to be a 75,000-dollar project saw quick cost cutting when businesses from around the community stepped in to do what they could to be a part of the event. Surveying the land, removing tree stumps, laying sod on the site and fund raising the community has really shown how much this memorial means to them.

The only minor complication was attaining the “bowtie” metal that is the centerpiece of the memorial.  Years ago a judge had ruled that before any of the metal was to be used, it had to be searched for any evidence it might hold relating to the 9/11.  Once the judge cleared all the metal for release, fire departments, museums and other establishments that wanted a piece of the historic metal had to fill out paperwork.

“The port authority put together a program where municipalities, museums and fire departments would be able to send in paper work and apply to get a piece of steel,” Donahue said.  “We put the paper work in, which took a couple years, and finally they responded back to us saying we could take a piece of steel.”

Whereas other fire departments received small remains of the fallen buildings, the Saint James branch received a “bowtie” piece that when placed in its base plate will weigh almost 16,000 pounds.

“The piece we got was only one of the two pieces they recovered from the rubble like it,” Donahue said.

The metal cross is currently outside of the Saint James Fire Department on Woodlawn Avenue at the corner of Woodlawn and Jefferson for those who want to see one of the pieces of the North Tower that once stood beautifully in the skyline of New York City. 

The official opening of the memorial will be September 11^th of this year, memorializing not only the life of local hero Doug Oelschlager, but also all those whose lives were tragically lost on September 11, 10 years ago.