3 takeaways:

• The Steel Across America event was sponsored by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
• The event transports an authentic steel beam from the World Trade Center, recovered after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, across the country in a series of public stops. 
• Steel Across America began in May and will make 35 stops across the U.S. when it concludes in September.

History once again repeated in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community as a rare piece of U.S. history made a stop here. This time it took place on June 17 at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River Fields. 

An event designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Steel Across America is a nationwide tour hosted by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The foundation honors the sacrifice of New York firefighter Stephen Siller and all those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, by facilitating events, creating programs and working closely with fallen first responders and their families. 

Siller was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1 and had just finished his overnight shift on the morning of 9/11. Upon hearing the news of the attacks, Siller told his wife he was going back and returned to his Squad 1 to suit up and begin helping those in need. Sadly, Siller lost his life saving others that day. 

On June 17, Steel Across America brought an authentic 21-foot-long steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center attack to the Community at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens. They are touring the beam across the country for public view.

Guests and visitors were able to touch the beam as it rested on a flatbed semitruck. The steel beam weighs approximately 16,000 pounds. 

The stop in the Community was the 16th for Steel Across America. By the end of the tour in September, Steel Across America will have visited 35 cities across 21 states in roughly three months. 

“Each life lost was a story interrupted,” said Brad Blakeman, board member of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, during the visit’s opening ceremony. “Today, we remember those that we’ve lost, not only on that tragic day, but right here in Salt River.”

Blakeman served in the Bush administration. He also served as a consultant to the offices of the U.S. president and vice president from 1980 to 1993. 

Later, Blakeman and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation gave their condolences to fallen SRPMIC police officer Clayton Townsend. “Officer Townsend was an Arizona native, a husband, father and a five-year veteran of the department. Like all the brave men and women that we honor today, we vow to never forget their sacrifice,” said Blakeman. 

Following the moment of silence, chants of “USA! USA!” broke out among the crowd. 

Later, Blakeman revealed that their stop in the SRPMIC is the tour’s only stop on Indigenous land. “As we stand here next to the physical reminder of the tragedy, I’d like to mention that the ground we stand on today belongs to the men and women of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.”

He continued, “It’s also worth mentioning that Native people make up the highest number of servicemen and women per capita of any [ethnic] group in our nation.”

The ceremony continued as SRPMIC Vice-President Ricardo Leonard provided remarks. 

“For many of us, the memories remain. We remember where we were when we first heard the news [of 9/11],” he said. “We know that memory is not simply about looking back, it’s about ensuring that future generations understand their sacrifices.”

Leonard also detailed the importance of Steel Across America being held at the USS Arizona Memorial Grounds. “On Dec. 7, 1941, America was attacked. On Sept. 11, 2001, America was attacked once again. Separated by six decades, both moments tested our nation. The heroes we honor today come from different generations, but they are connected to a common service to something greater than ourselves.”

At the conclusion of his speech, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation presented Leonard with a commemorative custom-built steel plaque created from steel taken from the Twin Towers. 

Following the presentation of the plaque, Leonard sang the basket dance song while the Salt River Traditional Dancers performed. 

Steel Across America will continue its tour with upcoming stops in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Chicago and West Point, New York. 

For more information, check out the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org.