Residents want WTC memorial at County park
A petition is circulating around Fort Myers Beach regarding the placement of at least one of two artifacts collected from the World Trade Center wreckage site caused by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
One artifact was unanimously approved by the Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners to be erected as a constructed flagpole memorial at Fire Station #33, while the other piece faces to be cut into three pieces and placed at the three Beach fire stations. The steel beams were declared artifacts in May 2011.
Back in June, the original idea for the plan was to have the memorial placed at Crescent Beach Family Park at the foot of Matanzas Bridge for better public showing. But, due to permitting and other red tape issues, fire officials re-thought the process and decided on a district-owned site.
The issue and petition were brought to the forefront during a Q & A session at a special Town workshop at Santini Marina Plaza on Nov. 21.
“A group of us on the island have begun a petition to encourage the Lee County Commissioners to allow placement of the World Trade Center artifacts in Crescent Beach Family Park,” said Beach resident Catherine Wallace. “We would like it in a more public place and the foot of the bridge is the most welcoming spot where children can talk to their elders about what happened. It is a necessity for the continuance of the remembrance forever.”
Since then, Wallace said many more signatures have been collected since the special Town Workshop. The signees range from Beach residents to residents of Lee County to even international visitors (since the 9-11 attacks were regarded as an international event) that were in town for the sand sculpting festivals.
“We were just going out whenever we could to mention (the proposed flagpole memorial and its placement) and explain how it was awarded and procured and why the location was changed,” she said. “It sometimes took 10 to 15 minutes of conversations to talk about it because people have their personal views. But, it was all positive.”
Wallace stated she has a family military connection since she is a General’s daughter. She is very passionate about honoring and remembering those who gave their lives on that infamous day 10 years ago.
“I’ve done some research regarding artifacts that were awarded to other areas. There was some very powerful information as far as the procurement and placement considerations of the final destination of the artifacts from what was felt at the 10th anniversary,” she said.
Hopes are to present the petition in front of the Lee County Board of Commissioners sometime in January.
“Our goal is to show enough interest and concern (for the change in location). It is very tentative right now,” said Wallace.
FMB Fire Chief Mike Becker, who attended the workshop as a special taxing district representative for the Beach Fire Department, stated he had heard of the petition through those who were involved.
“I have spoken to a group that wants to change that direction and that’s the will of the people,” he said. “I just want to properly respect the artifact that we were so proudly given. Our fire district only owns four sites to place the artifacts. The only feasible property the district has is Fire Station #33 to display an artifact of any public recognition and viewing. A decision by the elected fire board was to display the artifact there.”
Wallace hopes to speak to Becker again in the near future about the issue. At the workshop, Becker stated fire officials are expected to be seeking appropriate permits by February or March of 2012.
The fire district has collected commitments from Gora McGahey Architect Services for the project’s design and Fowler Construction for the construction of it. No District cost is perceived to be associated with the process.
“A lot of work has been done to get the artifact and recognition of McGorhay’s firm to design the project and Fowler Construction to actually build it is free of cost to any of the taxpayers,” he said on Nov. 21.
When the historic wreckage from 9/11 was made available to on-site first responders, three FMB Fire Control District officials drove up to New York City to pick up two 30 inch- by 16-inch by 16-inch I-beam segments and transport them back to Estero Island. They were obtained after FMB Fire Medical Officer Lt. Randy Kraus, a paramedic and first responder in New York City at the time of the infamous 9/11 attacks, sent a written inquiry to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, who maintains the WTC site, and was later approved.
More information will follow regarding the issue, petition signing and petition presentation.