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Steinbrenner Field Pays Tribute To 9/11 Legends

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 30, 2009

TAMPA - Crafted from pieces of the World Trade Center, a memorial to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks was dedicated Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

A ceremony was held at home plate before the start of a New York Yankees spring training game and featured retired New York City firefighters as well as representatives of Gerdau Ameristeel, which donated steel and funding for the monument, and Rustic Steel Creations, which designed and built it.

Portions of the monument outside the stadium represent every group who died in the terrorist attacks.

Grass around the monument is meant to represent those who died in Pennsylvania when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. The base is in the shape of the Pentagon. The steel towers at its top represent the World Trade Center.

A piece of girder is inscribed with: "9-11-01 NYFD 343."

Monsignor Laurence Higgins, retired pastor at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, offered a prayer during the ceremony, saying people will always honor and remember the innocent victims of Sept. 11.

"We will never forget 9-11, this day of infamy," he said.

The monument was presented to the New York Yankees by the Gene O' Kane Division of retired firefighters of New York City.

Neil Johnson

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