Newton's 9/11 Memorial Will Include World Trade Center Steel

Officials at the Newton Fire Department are working to bring a piece of Sept. 11 history here to Newton.

Fire Chief Bruce Proia told Newton Patch this week that a Newton firefighter will be able to acquire some steel from Ground Zero to be a part of .

"Members of the Newton Fire Department feel it will be a worthwhile and inspirational opportunity to incorporate steel from Ground Zero into the Newton 911 Memorial," Proia said in an email to Newton Patch. "We believe it will be meaningful to recognize the public safety personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to protect their fellow man, and to create a link for personnel who wear the patch of public safety here in Newton to those in New York City."

Newton Firefighter Jay Bourgeois, who has worked with the department since 1988, said he will be traveling down to Queens in the near future to pick up the steel. 

As part of a federal response team, Bourgeois was dispatched to Ground Zero on September 11 to help with search and rescue efforts. The connections he made down in New York City allowed him to reach out to the right people and acquire some of the steel. 

"[The Ground Zero steel] will make the memorial very meaningful," said Newton 9-11 Memorial Committee Chair Sande Young said earlier this month.

Steel from the Twin Towers is also used in other Massachusetts 9/11 memorials, including the memorial in Acton. 

Late last month, members of the Newton 9-11 Memorial Committee traveled to to mark out the site for the memorial, which will be located on the side of the building. 

The committee , which was originally planned for installation on City Hall grounds. The memorial, which will commemorate the eight Newton residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, will be located to the right of the Newton Centre headquarters.

As a result of the new location, Young said the design has been scaled back slightly. 

The World Trade Center steel will make up roughly 1 cubic foot section of column, or other shape, to be mounted on a raised bench corner, according to drawings from architect Mark Sangiolo. 

The committee  after holding a competition involving local architects. The winning design was submitted by Sangiolo, an Upper Falls resident who incorporated design elements representing the World Trade Center, Pentagon and flight path of United Airlines Flight 93. 

To view updated design drawings of the memorial, check out the .pdfs to the right. 

Young told Newton Patch this week that the committee and architect have sent out the final drawings and are waiting for a construction bid.

As of January, the committee had raised more than $30,000 to cover materials and final design drawings. Over the last couple months, the committee has continued its fundraising efforts for the construction of the memorial.

In recent weeks the committee has received donations from Rockland Trust, and the Newton Police Memorial Association. 

"I see a light at the end of the tunnel," Young said in an interview earlier this month. "We are very close to our goal."

As of this week, Young said the committee has just $6,000-$7,000 left to raise. 

Committee members have also done media appearances to spread the word about the memorial and fundraising efforts, Young said. Board Member Ginny Gardner recently appeared on the Jeff Katz Show (AM 1200) and on Monday sat down with WBZ's Dan Rea for an interview. 

The committee will also be holding a jazz brunch fundraiser in May to help raise the remaining amount needed for materials and construction. The fundraiser will be held Sunday, May 6 at the Hampton Place Condo clubhouse, 77 Florence St. in Chestnut Hill. The brunch will be held from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and tickets are $40. Those who are interested in attending can call Young at 617-527-1726 or email Ssyspts33@aol.com.