For many 9/11 survivors and family members, three massive chunks of the toppled Twin Towers endure as repositories for remains of the still-missing victims.
The artifacts, stored at Kennedy Airport’s Hangar 17, served Tuesday as the oversized centerpieces for an emotional service before these last pieces of the World Trade Center were moved.
“We firmly believe that these pieces contain, each and every one of them, all of those lost souls who were never found,” said John Hodge, CEO of the Tunnel to Tower Foundation.
“This is the main reason why we treat these pieces with such reverence.”
The three totems of the terrorist attack are a 35,000-pound elevator motor, a 40,000-pound WTC parking structure column and a 40,000-pound TV North Tower antenna connector.
Surviving first responders were among those at the ceremony that started with a heart-wrenching rendition of “God Bless America” by retired NYPD Officer Daniel Rodriguez.
Bagpipes played as first responders from the Port Authority, FDNY and other agencies marched ahead of three flat trucks slowly relocating the items embedded with memories of destruction and heroism.
The trucks and the antenna were decorated with American flags.
“I wanted to say goodbye to the last pieces of steel. They remind us of that day,” said Rodriguez, who has performed at hundreds of 911 funerals.
Frank Siller, whose FDNY brother Stephen was never found, echoed those sentiments.
“It’s important for our country to never forget what happened,” he said. “We owe it to them (the fallen). These are sacred, sacred artifacts and that’s how we’ll treat them.”
The three items will be stored at an undisclosed location and later put on display, Hodge said.
FDNY Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeiffer said each piece of twisted metal tells a story.
“Almost 15 years ago we watched planes aim and crash into the World Trade Center. And in that moment our world changed,” Pfeiffer said. “During the rescue operations this hangar was open to collect artifacts, steel so that we may never forget.”
NYPD Chief of Citywide Operations Thomas Purtell choked back tears recalling that dark day of nearly 15 years past.
“Those of us that survived that day subsequently did weeks and months down there,” he said. “This is burned in our psyche. We will never forget this.”
More than 2,500 9/11-related pieces have left Hangar 17. Many went to the Sept. 11 museum and others were exhibited across the country, said Steve Coleman, Port Authority spokesperson.