9/11 Memorial Taking Shape at Fire Station

The new memorial at the is starting to take shape — set for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11.

The pentagonal base of the memorial is set in stone. And concrete.

Two beams that were  in New York City will now be used as a memorial to honor firefighters who died on Sept. 11.

Just before the last layer of concrete was poured to secure the beams, a large group of Lakewood firefighters to drop in a time capsule.

Fire Marshal Tim Dunphy, who has spearheaded the memorial project, said the private service was a special occasion.

“The time capsule includes both of our department patches — pardon the pun — a copy of the USA Today, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Lakewood Sun Post, a pair of fire gloves, an army hat from a department members’ recent tour of Iraq, a handi-talkie radio and a current department roster of all members,” said Dunphy, who was one of a dozen firefighters who drove to New York to pick up the steel.

He also said that, in addition to the time capsule buried underneath the fallen firefighters memorial, firefighters also tucked away a copy of "Pride and Ownership" — a book given to every firefighter when they begin at the Lakewood Fire Department.

“The title says it all,” Dunphy said. 

The memorial — to be built in front of  on Madison Avenue — will be completed just in time for the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

Using ideas submitted by Lakewood High School art students, the plans show the two 12-foot beams rising in from a large concrete pad poured in a pentagonal shape.

Crews from the city have been working two clear the space for the future memorial. , a Lakewood-based architecture firm, volunteered to craft the plans.