The Tunnel to Towers Steel Across America tour is currently honoring fallen heroes across the nation. This week, the tour made a stop in Boston at the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in the Seaport. This nationwide tour will conclude in New York City shortly after the anniversary of September 11.
The tour features a significant piece of history—a preserved 21-foot steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This beam, which has been on tour since May, serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance.
“For us as first responders and veterans, what this means as we come up on the 25th anniversary is personal. It’s all about educating the next generation and not forgetting the sacrifices, not only made on 9/11 but what we’ve endured in the 20 years after in all theaters of combat,” explained Dan Magoon, the executive director of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes.
As guests approached the 21-foot, 16,900-pound steel beam, they paid their respects. The beam was recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower.
Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. Winter Olympics hockey team known for the “Miracle on Ice” victory, honored his friends who were passengers on one of the planes hijacked on September 11. “It touched the heart of our country. It touched the souls of our country,” Eruzione said about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This foundation assists 9/11 families, first responders, and veterans using funds raised through various charity runs.
The event also gathered first responders and law enforcement personnel from Massachusetts. Attendees reflected on the history and significance of the beam. “It’s just crazy to think about where it once stood, the people that worked inside the buildings, the people that rushed inside to save those people and what happened when it all came down,” remarked Daniel McCarthy, a Boston resident with roots in New York.
Following the gathering at the memorial, the beam was moved to Fenway Park. Earlier in the week, it had been at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Another prominent stop is planned for the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 8.
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