If I was ever to attempt another mission, it would be to go to the moon & back. About eight months ago I started on a journey, now this is not your normal drive to a vacation spot or going fishing at a designated spot in the ocean. It started long before I had ever realized that one day I would find a "cause" that would hold the integrity that is so very over due for those lost on September 11, 2001. While being a Fire Fighter in the City of Absecon, New Jersey ( three miles from Atlantic City ) I attended a small gathering of scout troops, and members of the community, located in Absecon, on Rte 30.
While I listened to speeches, and the band playing music it hit me that something was missing to honor those people who died that horrible day. So here I stand, looking at 343 little American Flags, honoring those firefighters lost in NY City, at the World Trade Center. Being an American, it hit me that I needed to push the envelope, I had the idea to see if I could first get he
information to write, call, email, text, what ever was needed to be gifted a piece of the WTC Artifact. After going on line and looking at memorials,and letters with regards to those lost, my emotions came flowing at me , and I wanted to make this happen. So, I digress to this extent, after hundreds of emails, calls, text messages, and the letter writing it was still not working, Then it came to me to try a different approach, and low and behold it started to gel. "Not Quickly" rather slow as slow can be, then one day I received a email, that stated in very small words that I was "APPROVED". What an emotion of wonder, what would it be, how long, was it rusted, was it bent, was it still in tact to some degree ?
The lady that helped me with this is the Vice President for the World Trade Center Artifacts, and she gave me three choices,
The piece of steel is 16' long, and 38" high & 38" wide....It's an I-beam. Now I was overwhelmed with this new Artifact. But the rest of the story is a work in progress, I'm presently awaiting the final information packet to be able to go to Hanger # 17, at JFK Airport and pickup this 12 ton piece of Steel-Artifact. My heart & mind are focused on the task at hand, there was no one helping me just my gut instinct to push the dream, and now we are in the final stages.I sure most people would think that I'm crazy, a looney person, or maybe they may say he has hit this one out of the Park. I hope I have done justice to those lost, we can never understand the pain & hurt, and fear that has damaged those families with lost loved ones, but I made a promise that I would some day, show the world that we Are The American Spirit, so I will let you know the story as it develops, and will send you pictures for this memorial
site.
Always,
Jim Smith ( just an American)
While I listened to speeches, and the band playing music it hit me that something was missing to honor those people who died that horrible day. So here I stand, looking at 343 little American Flags, honoring those firefighters lost in NY City, at the World Trade Center. Being an American, it hit me that I needed to push the envelope, I had the idea to see if I could first get he
information to write, call, email, text, what ever was needed to be gifted a piece of the WTC Artifact. After going on line and looking at memorials,and letters with regards to those lost, my emotions came flowing at me , and I wanted to make this happen. So, I digress to this extent, after hundreds of emails, calls, text messages, and the letter writing it was still not working, Then it came to me to try a different approach, and low and behold it started to gel. "Not Quickly" rather slow as slow can be, then one day I received a email, that stated in very small words that I was "APPROVED". What an emotion of wonder, what would it be, how long, was it rusted, was it bent, was it still in tact to some degree ?
The lady that helped me with this is the Vice President for the World Trade Center Artifacts, and she gave me three choices,
The piece of steel is 16' long, and 38" high & 38" wide....It's an I-beam. Now I was overwhelmed with this new Artifact. But the rest of the story is a work in progress, I'm presently awaiting the final information packet to be able to go to Hanger # 17, at JFK Airport and pickup this 12 ton piece of Steel-Artifact. My heart & mind are focused on the task at hand, there was no one helping me just my gut instinct to push the dream, and now we are in the final stages.I sure most people would think that I'm crazy, a looney person, or maybe they may say he has hit this one out of the Park. I hope I have done justice to those lost, we can never understand the pain & hurt, and fear that has damaged those families with lost loved ones, but I made a promise that I would some day, show the world that we Are The American Spirit, so I will let you know the story as it develops, and will send you pictures for this memorial
site.
Always,
Jim Smith ( just an American)
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