Saturday, January 10, 2009

Pentagon attack artifact arrives in 9/11 Park

Brent Ruffner News-Bulletin Staff Writer; bruffner@news-bulletin.com

Belen The 9/11 Memorial Park in Belen bolstered its already impressive lineup with some new hardware on Wednesday.

The newest addition, a limestone slab from the Pentagon, weighs about 10,000 pounds and took seven people about 45 minutes to get into place. The piece was lifted onto an 8-by-4 support that will eventually bear the names of people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In 2006, the limestone was shipped from the Pentagon and has been sitting at New Mexico Travertine in Belen until recent arrangements were made. The company donated about $1,200 to have the piece shipped.

"This is so emotional for me, right now," said Gloria Sanchez, who organized the memorial effort after the 2001 terrorist attacks. "I never thought this day would come."

The park, located at Church and Main streets, has an 8-foot replica of the Twin Towers; a steel-sculptured eagle; a piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center and a shovel used by the first organized rescue recovery group that entered the Pentagon after the attack. It has been nationally recognized — including by Life magazine — as one of the only 9/11 memorial parks outside the cities in which the attacks occurred.

Her son was among the first emergency responders to arrive at the Pentagon after the Sept. 11 attacks, and Sanchez and her husband, Sonny, arranged for the piece of the building to be given for the park.

Sanchez said six local businesses donated their time and money to complete the latest phase of the project. It took workers from local businesses about three months to construct the base to hold the slab that sits up against the freedom wall of the park.

"The donations from the local businesses and individuals has been great," Sanchez said. "This is part of Belen's legacy, and everyone that has helped are a part of that."

Precision Concrete Services Inc., New Mexico Travertine, Castillo Cement Products, Valley Hitch-N-Go and Charlie's Paint and Body Shop helped with the project.

Jeff Whyman of Precision Concrete Services Inc. said his company made sure the support could withstand the weight of the limestone.

"We wanted to help out," Whyman said. "It's kind of a neat-looking deal."

Sanchez said the newest addition was essential to help complete the park. She said she also wants to add a walkway and a fence to help complete the park by this September.

Sanchez, who has donated her own time and money, said she wanted to leave something for future generations when she came up with the idea of the park.

Her passion for the project hasn't gone unnoticed.

The state legislature appropriated $10,000 for the park about three years go, but the majority of funding has come from local individuals and business owners.

"It's a reflection of our generous community," Sanchez said. "It's heartwarming."

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