Convoy Delivers 9/11 WTC Remnants to Military Museum

Two large steel fragments of the World Trade Center arrived at The Military Museum of Southern Connecticut yesterday by convoy of U.S. Army soldiers who had just returned from their overseas mid-east tour. The pieces they delivered were part of an I-beam from one of the World Trade Center Towers. They will be part of a new permanent exhibit that will pay tribute to those who lost their lives 10 years ago during the tragedy of September 11th.

The exhibit will also hold a fireman’s helmet and turnout coat, still covered with the dust from 9/11, which had been worn by retired fireman Guy Warren who was in Queens, NY, when he heard that the twin towers had been hit.

When Warren heard that a plane had hit the towers, he grabbed his duffel bag filed with his fire fighting gear and rode his motorcycle into New York City. Just before he went through the Mid-Town Tunnel, he saw the South Tower collapse. Riding only as far as Dwayne Street in downtown Manhattan, his motorcycle started to sputter and cough, and finally ceased. Jumping from the bike, he joined other firefighters who were racing on foot towards the World Trade Center. When he was just a block and a half away, the second tower collapsed.

With clouds of dust enveloping everything, Warren and another firefighter made their way to an overturned, abandoned ambulance. Inside they found two tanks of air with the face pieces intact, which saved their lives.

Warren said Tuesday he spent “days and days, weeks and weeks” in the efforts to go through the remnants of the building, looking for survivors and ultimately helping to find those who had died. A photo of him taken during that time appeared on the cover of NewsMax.Com, and the helmet and coat that he wears in the photo will be a part of the exhibit in Danbury.

The discussion of 9/11 left speaker Sgt. John Lebherz emotional. Having been in Iraq and Afganistan, he said, “What happened in 9/11 was unacceptable.”

“Folks gave two lives that day. The one they lost, and the life they would have had,” said Mayor Mark Boughton, who also attended the event. “Congratulations to the museum. Let the residents of Danbury understand and feel this as part of our nation's history.”

All fifty states have received pieces of the World Trade Center to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The exhibit will be available for viewing on or before the anniversary. The Military Museum of Southern New England is at 125 Park Avenue, Danbury, CT.