'Firefighters' Cross' Now a Memorial to Sept. 11 Victims (Cross Saved)

BP News ^ | 11-09-01 | Art Toalston

[classygreeneyedblonde]

NEW YORK CITY (BP)-The cross has been saved. The cross, that is, of steel beams uncovered as workers in New York cleared away debris at the World Trade Cent

Recovery worker Frank Silecchia, who has championed the cross' preservation, told Baptist Press Nov. 6 the cross has been designated as a memorial by the city of New York.

The cross has been moved to the front of the World Financial Center's Building Six on West Street, Silecchia said, noting that its final location has not yet been determined. The cross is "a symbol of faith" commemorating those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Silecchia said

Silecchia noticed the two steel beams in the perfect shape of a cross as debris was being removed from a fallen crosswalk that connected the World Trade Center's North Tower to Building Three two days after the disaster.

The beams, at least six feet high and four feet wide, were bolted together as part of the original structure. The edges of the beams bear no markings of being cut or welded to make the shape of a cross

The most heart-wrenching discovery was that a silver object melted onto the cross' left side was the remains of a firefighter's jacket who died in the blast. Firefighters say the fire-resistant jacket turned silver and took on the look and consistency of metal when it encountered extreme heat and fire. Now, it is wrapped around the left arm of the cross.

The discovery of the two beams, and of several smaller crosses amid the rubble, led Silecchia on a campaign to save the cross from demolition, petitioning Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to designate it as a memorial to Sept. 11's victims.

Yellow and white writings by rescue workers in memory of their colleagues now cover the cross. The most visible of the markings runs down one side, "God bless our fallen brothers."

For the terrorists, terror is their faith. For us, God is our faith," said Silecchia, a New Jersey man who is quick to give a Christian witness. "Who's going to win? God is. He's going to have the last word. And he did here," he said of the cross pulled from the terrorists' aftermath.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

[vrwinger]

Thanks for the photo, classygreeneyedblonde.. I have heard of the Cross yet had not seen it...

[EggsAckley]

Soooo glad they will preserve this cross. I just hope the PC crowd doesn't have a hissy fit over it being a "religious" icon and not appropriate for a city memorial.

And isn't it odd that there has been virtually NO coverage of this on television? (NOT!)

[classygreeneyedblonde]

your welcome

[vrwinger]

Other than Ann Coulter's column a few weeks back (ironically, noting how little space the NYT had devtoted to the Cross as compared to "post 9/11 fashions" and other such silliness), I have not seen anything about it...

[fone]

Amen.

[cgk]

Here's another picture of the (golden WTC) cross.

:o)

Mrs Kus

[cgk]

The most heart-wrenching discovery was that a silver object melted onto the cross' left side was the remains of a firefighter's jacket who died in the blast. Firefighters say the fire-resistant jacket turned silver and took on the look and consistency of metal when it encountered extreme heat and fire. Now, it is wrapped around the left arm of the cross.

I just re-read this article, and this flew out at me. I had never read this before. Makes me all teary all-over again, and more grateful this was found and memorialized for our WTC heroes.

Mrs Kus

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Thank you......got it bookmarked

[RoseofTexas]

MAN, that pic gives me the chills! GOD BLESS AMERICA, MAY HE BE MERCIFUL UNTO TO US!

[cgk]

The most heart-wrenching discovery was that a silver object melted onto the cross' left side was the remains of a firefighter's jacket who died in the blast. Firefighters say the fire-resistant jacket turned silver and took on the look and consistency of metal when it encountered extreme heat and fire. Now, it is wrapped around the left arm of the cross.

I hate to post yet again about the same topic, but I realized, since this has been stuck in my head a good part of the day, that I think we have the picture of the fireman's melted silver-ized jacket on our hard drive this whole time. I never realized the relevance until your post, Classy. Is this the jacket they're referring to in this picture?

Here is the picture so you can see what I finally saw. It does speak - more than a thousand words... and tears.

Mrs Kus

[Cool Guy]

Thanks for the ping!

[summer]

Mrs Kus, Thanks so much for flagging me on this thread. Incredible photos. Thanks again.

Travis, I thought you'd want to see these photos too.

[summer]

Thanks for posting this thread. BTTT.

[habs4ever]

That's the pic with the most impact.Its like coming into a cavernous clearing, the light shines on the cross amind the destruction, and there it is.Thank you.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Yes that's the jacket...very sad

[cgk]

You're welcome for the bump. Least I can do for the bumps you send my way.

And - this is one of those topics that touches everyone. Thanks, Classy - for the post!

Mrs Kus

[cgk]

I agreed. It's the first one I saw of it - on Drudge's site. I immediately saved it. One of those things that grabs you and holds on.

Mrs Kus

[summer]

bttt

[VOA]

Makes me all teary all-over again, and more grateful this was found and memorialized for our WTC heroes.

Just a note about the picture of the young-ish looking fireman headed up the stairs...
in case lurkers haven't heard his story.
Like about a billion other people, I was haunted by the photo, contemplating that
I was looking at a brave man who "reached the top".
The LA Times carried his story...he survived. And has gotten about a zillion phone-calls.
Like all the surviving fireman, he's humble and just tells folks to give to the
fund for spouses and children of firefighters and police.
Sorry I can't remember his name...but the face I'll never forget.