January 8, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

World Trade Center Steel Beam to Go on Display at Fire Academy

A three foot, 480 lb. steel section of the New York World Trade Center Twin Towers will go on display Thursday, January 9, at the Shreveport Fire Academy, 9440 Greenwood Road . . .

Following a short ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the front of the Academy, citizens will be allowed to view the section, which will be located in the front foyer of the complex. The steel section was secured from the City of New York by the Shreveport Fire Department after months of negotiations for a memorial to be constructed later this year by the Southwest Chapter of the American Clan Gregor - a local Scottish civic organization. The memorial is slated to be constructed in Shreveport’s Columbia Park.

Other communities around the nation have received sections of the World Trade Center destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to a New York City’s Mayor’s Office representative, this section was one of the remaining three section to be awarded. Most have been memorialized and prominently displayed to allow the public to actually see in person a piece of the events of September 11. Those who have already had the opportunity to view the steel section have been moved by what it represents. "It is a tremendous symbol of what our country went through on September 11 but moreover what our country has overcome since," said Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran. The display will be open through the end of next week from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. ###