A replica of the World Trade Center buildings destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York City is planned for a memorial on Marco Island.
The city’s fire chief, Chris Byrne, presented renderings from the Marco Island Fire-Rescue Foundation to the Marco Island City Council Monday, June 15, and asked permission to place the memorial on city property at Fire Station 50 next to City Hall at 1280 San Marco Road.
Councilors voted a resounding 7-0 in favor.
“This is the 25th anniversary of this horrific event, so it has such impactful meaning to all of us,” said foundation President Dianna Dohm. “I am so appreciative of this community; we are 75% funded at this point. It’s a wonderful tribute to our community and also a tribute to those who lost their lives.”
The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, two highjacked commercial planes struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. All passengers on the planes were killed, both towers collapsed – 2,753 people died in the attacks.
That same morning, another plane was flown into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth plane, presumably headed for the White House or the U.S. Capitol, was diverted by passengers and ended up crashing in an empty field in Pennsylvania. Another 224 people were killed.
Some of the hijackers took flight training in Florida, in Venice and Palm Beach County.
Foundation wants to honor first responders
More than 10,000 emergency responders ultimately participated in the 9/11 rescue and recovery, with 441 dying in their efforts, according to Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Marco Island’s 9/11 Memorial will “serve as a place of remembrance, reflection, and education for residents and visitors while honoring the sacrifices of those who lost their lives and the courage of first responders who served during and after the attacks,” according to memorandum of understanding between the Fire-Rescue Foundation and the city.
The foundation will pay for the memorial, including any required engineering, landscaping, irrigation, lighting, leveling/grading, drainage improvements, new pathways and sidewalks, delivery, and installation. Marco Island agreed to waive all impact and/or building fees.
Foundation representatives will give updates to the city council as its plans unfold, Byrne said.
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J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Marco Island to get 9/11 memorial at fire station near city hall
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
