9/11 Remembrance Rail

9/11 Remembrance Rail. . , On a bright fall day, September 11, 2001, our Nation was attacked by terrorists who hi-jacked four commercial aircraft. Their mission was to fly two aircraft into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one aircraft into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and a fourth unknown target. Passengers on the fourth aircraft overpowered the hijackers and forced United Airlines Flight 93 to crash into a farm field in the Pennsylvania countryside before it could reach its target., The World Trade Center was a civilian target, not a military asset. The lives of people around the world have been permanently altered as the result of these heinous actions. The United States and other Nations united together to remove the threat of the despots who killed innocent people without warning or provocation. We must remain vigilant and always resilient against those who would attempt to [destroy] the guiding principles of the Constitution of the United States., The artifact before you comes from the destroyed remains of the World Trade Center, in New York City., A total of 2,997 lives were lost that day and 6,000 were injured. Men, women, and children from 115 Nations around the world are part of that number., The rail was obtained by the Smithville American Legion Jim Nelson Post 58 from the New York Port Authority in 2016 and was dedicated on September 11, 2018. It lay 6 stories beneath the Trade Center and was tempered and twisted by the fire that raged around it for 14 weeks., It is hoped this memorial serves as a reminder of the evil acts taken against our Nation, and offers a place to meditate and reflect. We must remain united in resolute determination to continue to move forward and overcome those who would bring harm to our citizens and attempt to destroy our way of life as a Nation of Liberty and Freedom formed under the Constitution as a Democratic Republic., The half ton, 23 foot long rail [pierces] an empty 4' x 4' x 6' deep chamber., The empty chamber represents the evil and fear that marked that day and signifies the emptiness left in the hearts of those who lost loved ones., The rail rises through the darkness at ground level entering into the light, representing good overcoming evil., The chamber is covered with 5/8” tempered glass that has been acid etched with symbols of the World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2, the Pentagon, and the outline of Pennsylvania, representing Flight 93., The glass is centered with a star signifying the unity of the Union., The drops of water on the underside of the glass represent the tears shed for those who were killed on that day and for those who have since died as a result of working in the dust filled toxic air that surrounded Ground Zero., Black granite surrounds the chamber perimeter, [etched] with symbols that represent fire fighters, law enforcement, first responders, and civilian good samaritans., As rain flows down the rail it will stain the granite with rust, much like the track of a tear as it runs down a [person's] cheek., Memorial design: Dewayne Knott, Lt. Col. USAF, (Ret.)