Gibsonburg proud of 9/11 memorial

GIBSONBURG — One of the largest 9/11 remnants can be found in a Sandusky County village. Within Gibsonburg's Public Safety Service Memorial, located in Williams Park on E. Stone St., is a 36-foot long portion of the main antenna that was atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It weighs 7,000 pounds. Village administrator Marc Glotzbecker said conversations between local artist Jim Havens and village officials about a memorial dedicated to first responders started seven years ago. "During the conversation, it was pinpointed that the one event in our history that affected all first responders was 9/11," Glotzbecker said. "We began the process of trying to obtain an artifact from the New York/New Jersey Port Authority that could be used in the memorial that we wanted to develop. "After countless letters, phone calls and emails, we were finally able to get in touch with a 'friend of a friend' who could direct us to the right person to speak with. In early 2015, we were given a list of artifacts that we could pick from. The catch was that the port authority was in the beginning stages of closing down the program and we had to act quickly and agree to travel to New York City to pick up the artifact. "The process was long and at certain times frustrating, but for us, it was all about persistence and believing in what we set out to do." The 9/11 piece was brought from New York city to Gibsonburg in June 2015 and installed in the Public Safety Service Memorial in 2016. In fewer than two years, community members raised more than $150,000 to build the memorial, which was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2016. Williams Park was an ideal place for the artifact and the new first responders memorial because several memorials for military veterans are located there. Glotzbecker described what visitors can expect to see when they visit Williams Park. "The memorial is in the shape of a pentagon (representing the events that occurred at the Pentagon on 9/11). The artifact rests atop a scale sculpture of the new One World Trade Center and signifies 'rising up.' Inside of the memorial are two black granite cubes that represent the North and South Towers and are situated according to how they would be in New York City. "Plaques on the north wall pay honor to the events in Pennsylvania and tell the story of 9/11, the lives lost and the impact that it had on the world. It is always open and accessible to anyone who would like to visit it." Since the World Trade Center artifact was installed in the memorial, numerous visitors — including news media like NPR, the Wall Street Journal and others — have stopped by. "It's very humbling and I don't know if any of us realized the long-term effects of the memorial when we began the process," Glotzbecker said. In fact, Glotzbecker spoke with a large group of bicyclists visiting the memorial more than a week before the 20th anniversary of 9/11. "There were about 12 guys on bicycles and a truck and trailer near the memorial," he said. "We always try to stop and talk to people when we see them around the memorial, so I swung around the corner and stopped. I introduced myself to them and welcomed them to town and asked if they had any questions. "These guys and their crew are group called the 'bay2brooklyn' ride. They're active or retired firefighters and they were biking from San Francisco to Brooklyn and Ground Zero in honor of the lives lost on 9/11," Glotzbecker said. "They average 100 miles a day and were on target to make their destination on Sept. 9 and in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. They read about the memorial and altered their riding course so that they could visit." Those who live in Gibsonburg are "very proud" of constructing the Public Safety Service Memorial," Glotzbecker said. "Gibsonburg is an amazing community," he said. "There are certainly communities larger in size, but may not have a heart the size of that which exists here. In regards to the tragic events of 9/11, we always see or hear the phrase: "Never forget." Gibsonburg has never forgotten and has made sure that 9/11 and those people senselessly taken will never be forgotten."