Take a drive down Haddon Avenue and you may notice a new addition to the front of Haddon Fire Company №1. Standing on a platform no more than three feet high, this subtly warped piece of metal is no artist’s creation, but instead a piece of steel once part of the World Trade Center.
Haddon Fire Company №1 chief Joe Riggs explained it was entirely by chance that they had the piece installed with a little more than a week until the 12th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
While a considerable amount of time had passed since they had first contacted the New York City Port Authority, Riggs explained that fire company president Butch Brees was contacted just the week before and traveled to LaGuardia Airport to pick up the piece of steel.
“This should never be forgotten and that’s why we made the effort to chip in and get this memorial done,” Riggs said.
Enlisting help from local sculptor John Giannotti and Joe Rodi of Rodi’s Auto Body, the memorial was constructed — permanently housing the piece of steel in front of the Haddonfield Fire Company №1 building.
“It makes us feel good to keep this memory alive,” Riggs said.
With the memorial already unveiled for the public, the official dedication ceremony will take place on Oct. 10 at 6:45 p.m. during Fire Prevention Night. Speakers will include Riggs, as well as Brees — who Riggs said was the one responsible for “spearheading this project” — and possibly a representative of the New York City Port Authority.
Riggs explained that this memorial is a way to support all the families who were affected by the events of Sept. 11 and to remember the loved ones they lost. He explained that Haddonfield has many sculptures that are important to the town; this memorial is important on a national scale — honoring those fallen police officers, paramedics, irefighters and many more who left so much behind in their passing.
“It didn’t take any creative art to make this. It was a tragic event,” Riggs said. “ The objective of our department is to make this a constant reminder.”
Yet, with nothing more added to the piece of steel than a foundation for it to rest on, Riggs said some residents have expressed to him what they see when they look at the twisted medal.
“People have said it represents the wings of an eagle,” Riggs said.
While not everyone sees the eagle wings, Riggs is sure of one thing: That cars driving by the fire station are continually pausing to catch a glimpse of the new memorial.
