Park to get piece of the Trade Center towers
JANESVILLE — Janesville will receive a piece of the former World Trade Center to display in Firehouse Park downtown.
Kevin Murray, chairman of Janesville Firefighters Charities, contacted the Port Authority to request an artifact.
After the collapse of the towers on 9/11, the authority kept the pieces as evidence for their investigation, Murray said.
Now that the investigation is over, the authority issued an e-mail to nonprofit groups such as the charities and said they could apply for pieces of the tower.
"We have this little park as a tribute to firefighters," Murray said. He thought it would be a perfect fit.
"Just as (the project is) almost done, now comes this little piece."
Murray has received an e-mail saying the city will get something.
"Now, it's a matter of what that something will be," he said. "How big, how long, what is it?"
The artifact will be a piece of one of the two towers, and it could be a beam or a piece of the exterior façade, for instance.
"It might draw some people down there," Murray said. "It's a piece of history."
Tom Presny, parks director, said the prospect of bringing a piece of a tower to Janesville is exciting.
"What a perfect location to recognize the dedication of firefighters," he said.
The parks department and the firefighters will decide together on the type and size, considering the park's small size.
The firefighters have done an outstanding job transforming the park into what it is today, and the artifact should be in keeping with the scale, Presny said.
Firefighters will transport the artifact to Janesville.
Firehouse Park is located at 101 N. Main St.
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Dec 5, 2009 at 9:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
To those of you saying theres little connection to Janesville or our firefighters:
When you're a firefighter, it's a "brotherhood" of sorts. You have a connection to each other through their duty, service and calling regardless of municipal or state boundaries. The piece of the tower might not mean much to some but it will always serve as a reminder that we are Americans and that attack on September 11 was an attack on ALL OF US, firefighters and many others died in the attack and evacuation of the site and that we should all see a little farther past our own noses a little more often.
Someone here could have had a family member or friend die on 9/11 even though they don't live in New York City and could go to the park to reflect, pray or just remember. Someone may become inspired to serve their city, state or country with such an artifact so close to home.
There's a bigger picture than if Janesville was directly involved. I can't wait to see the tower piece come to our park.
Dec 5, 2009 at 8:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
No connection to Janesville? It has a connection to ALL of us. We are America! We were attacked!
Dec 5, 2009 at 1:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
It seems to have little connection to Janesville. Even though I see the point in honoring firefighters.
Dec 5, 2009 at 1:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
I could never forget.
I'm not sure how I feel about a piece of such a tragedy being displayed in Janesville. It was such an emotional event.
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