The creation of the 9-11 memorial in front of Washington Township Fire Station 93 (5825 Brand Road)was initiated by firefighter Paul DeVore and Dublin Police Sgt. Ray Scharf. The memorial’s focal point is a piece of I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers.
The beam is suspended over a black granite stone which has been engraved with a seal. On the seal are the words: “September 11, 2001 World Trade Center We Will Never Forget.” There is also a bench and lighted flag pole nearby, all surrounded by perennials and annuals.
Obtaining the section of I-beam required a lot of research, planning, and even a special permit, issued by the City of New York. In order to be eligible to get the piece of I-beam, Paul and Ray had to provide extensive documentation, agree to use the piece for public display only and in a way that would not generate profit.
It is because of the cooperative spirit and generosity of many individuals that the memorial came to be. Washington Township Trustees provided the truck that Paul and Ray used to retrieve the I-beam, which weighs more than 600 pounds. They also provided funding for the engraved stone and the cement foundation on which it sits. Firefighter Mike Halleck poured the foundation. Sutphen Corporation donated funding for the application of a special protective coating to protect the I-beam from environmental elements.
Benjamin Hetzer, son of WTFD firefighter Terry Hetzer and his wife Jill, earned his eagle scout rank by creating the landscape elements around the memorial. This involved moving soil, laying stone paths, preparing planting beds, raising money for and purchasing plant material, pruning existing trees, and painting a section of the station façade.
The memorial was officially completed in the Summer of 2003 and is open to the public 365 days a year. It was a labor of love for not only the two men who spearheaded the project, but also for the entire Washington Township Fire and Dublin Police Departments, in memory of all the dedicated servicemen and women who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001.