Belleville use Sept. 11 artifact for memorial

BELLEVILLE — Fundraising efforts are planned in the southwestern Illinois city of Belleville for a memorial walkway that’ll include an artifact from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of a decade ago.

A 35-foot-long, 7,100-pound beam of twisted, rusted steel from one of the World Trade Center towers that collapsed after the attacks is in an engine bay at the Belleville Fire Department’s headquarters.

Fire Chief Scott Lanxon says the proposed walkway will go around the property to a parking lot, with a timeline of events that occurred the day of the attacks.

Lanxon believes the memorial will help educate, especially children born after the attacks and who may not be familiar with what happened.

Anyone wanting to learn more or about the project or soon donate may find details on www.wtcmemorial.us.