World Trade Center Artifact Begins Historical Conversation with Younger Generations

When the World Trade Center artifact arrived in Arnold on Thursday, it provided a physical connection between Arnold and the events in New York City that occurred almost 10 years ago. 

“The artifact is something solid to remember each person who lost someone on 9/11,” Rock Community Fire Protection District Chief Matt Mayer said after his firefighters secured the artifact, in St. Louis, to a trailer for transport to Arnold.

The artifact is a 2-foot piece of World Trade Center steel that twisted when the office buildings crumbled, killing 2,817 people after terrorists flew two 767 passenger planes into the office towers almost 10 years ago.

Mayer traveled with a few of his firefighters to St. Louis on Thursday to retrieve the artifact from a UPS distribution center. Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Susie Boone, Ward 1 Councilman Christine "Cricky" Lang, Arnold Police Department officers, Rock Community Ambulance District medics, Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz, and Ward 3 Councilman Paul Freese also traveled to St. Louis.

The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, which guards World Trade Center remnants and approves 9/11 memorials, sent the artifact to Arnold late last week.

No Arnold resident was directly affected when terrorists flew two 767 passenger airplanes into the two World Trade Center office buildings on Sept. 11, 2001, said Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Susie Boone to a reporter in St. Louis on Thursday.

The Arnold group, however, had a strong emotional connection to the 9/11 events. The bowed heads and tears in the eyes indicated thoughts of people who died that day.

Mayor Ron Counts, numerous City Hall staffers and the five other city councilmen waited outside the building, at 2101 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold, to see the artifact for the first time.

They could not travel to St. Louis on Thursday due to budget negotiations. 

“The children can see this artifact and know it is a part of history,” said Counts after the firefighters presented the artifact to The City of Arnold.

Arnold Police Chief Robert Shockey, who also needed to attend city budget negotiations, has said 9/11 is a difficult day for police officers, firefighters medics and other first responders. 

That is a day when his brothers working for the public service died trying to help others, Shockey said during earlier this year. 

“And more than 15,000 American soldiers have died overseas because of 9/11,” Shockey said after Thursday’s presentation at City Hall.

“Our generation’s responsibility is to teach the importance and effects of 9/11 to younger generations,” Shockey said. 

Arnold is honored to have the artifact and placing it in a memorial is the best way to honor history, Shockey said.