Dixon to Receive a Piece of 9/11 Steel

The horrific events of 9/11 hit close to home for Ben Edokpayi. He lost his cousin during that fateful day in September 2001.

Edokpayi, who is the former editor of the and the former weekend editor of the Vacaville Reporter, told the Dixon City Council Tuesday that having a local 9/11 tribute would help his family heal from the loss.

The Dixon City Council agreed with Edokpayi and voted on a resolution that would pave the way for I-0094, the name given to a piece of steel that comes from the remains of the World Trade Center, to make its way to Dixon.

The resolution allows City Manager Nancy Huston to make a Transfer Agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Port Authority that would bring the piece of steel to Dixon.

Once in Dixon, the Dixon Fire Department will use the steel as a centerpiece to build a 9/11 memorial at the department. Under the agreement the city is to accept the steel ‘as is’ and must pay costs associated with transporting the steel from New York to Dixon.

In addition, the city must follow a court order that mandates that the city permit any litigants to inspect or test the steel upon 10 days notice to the recipient. The piece of steel is 24 inches long, two inches wide and three inches high, Fire Chief Aaron McAlister told the council.

For Edokpayi, the terms of the Transfer Agreement are a small price to pay to have a local place where people can go to reflect on the events of 9/11.

“I still remember that morning, what I was doing,” Edokpayi told the council.

Edokpayi said he was getting out of the shower and first heard the news from his wife. At first, Edokpayi was in shock, along with the rest of the nation, at what had happened at the World Trade Center.

“Then it dawned on my that I had a family member in that building,” he said. “My family was fortunate because we were able to get her remains.”

The loss of his cousin has been painful for his entire family, Edokpayi said, and having her remains has helped them grieve. Having a memorial in Dixon will help him move further past the tragedy.

“It was something that is going to live with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

The council voted on the resolution unanimously 4-0, with Councilman Rick Fuller not present and reportedly recovering from an illness according to City Manager Nancy Huston.