Carroll County has been given the honor to receive a steel I-beam artifact from the World Trade Centers in New York. After many hours of application submission and planning by county employees and members of the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, the beam was secured from the WTC Artifacts Program at New York's JFK Airport. On Wednesday October 7, 2015, a contingent of personnel from Carroll County including representatives from the Carroll County Government, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association and several members from a few of the volunteer fire companies in Carroll County, went to New York to transport the steel to Carroll County. The funding for transportation of the artifact was secured through donations.

As the caravan arrived at the Carroll/Baltimore County Line on Maryland Route 140, several pieces of equipment from the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company, the Maryland State Police and additional Sheriffs Deputies met with them to escort the steel to it's final destination. At 6 PM, the steel I-beam artifact arrived at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center on Kate Wagner Road in Westminster.

Upon arrival at the Training Center, the contingent was met with a large group of people and more equipment from Union Bridge, Westminster and Gamber Fire Companies. An acceptance speech was given by CCVESA President Charles Simpson and a prayer was offered by the Carroll County Sheriff's Chaplain. After that, those that were present took the opportunity to view the artifact and take pictures. Eventually, the artifact will be put on display in front of the newly renovated Training Center. A memorial is being designed and students from the Carroll County Career and Technology Center will build it. There is no definitive timeline for completion of the memorial at this time.

The project is expected to be funded completely by donations and fundraisers at this point, with no funds being requested or received from the Carroll County Government. The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company made a donation toward this effort and has challenged all other Carroll County fire companies to do the same. Reese has already accepted that challenge and made a donation as well.

"What is the significance of the steel I-beam?" you might ask. For the fire service, it signifies the sacrifice of 343 members of the FDNY, that selflessly gave there lives to save others during that tragic day in September 2001. It also honors firefighters that worked at the WTC site, who are passing away from medical complications that began soon after 9/11, even now. The fire service motto across the country is ‘Never Forget’ - 343.

For more information about the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, visit: http://www.911memorial.org/museum