Washington Fire Co. Ceremoniously Breaks Ground on 9/11 Memorial

Residents gathered in front of the Washington Fire Co. on West Elm Street in Conshohocken for a 9/11 ceremony, and for the groundbreaking of a new 9/11 memorial.

The event got underway at about 7:15 p.m. Prior to that, there was a ceremony across the river at West Conshohocken Borough Hall. Fire trucks then escorted a piece of the World Trade Center’s North Tower from West Conshy to the Washington Fire Co., where it was put on display, next to an American flag.

West Conshohocken Mayor Joseph Pignoli and Conshohocken Mayor Robert Frost both spoke at the event. Washington Fire Co. President Andrew Carlin described how the fire company acquired the artifact — from the chairman of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, after it had donated a used fire truck to the organization.

The fire company is in the process of raising about $75,000 for a permanent 9/11 memorial to be placed in front of the fire house. Carlin, after accepting some donations, said the fire company has already raised about $20,000.

“Your support honors us; it gives us strength,” Carlin said to the crowd. “People will be able to sit, reflect, touch the memorial. This is forever and we want you to be a part of this, for the victims … to keep them alive.”