At The Museum Today

Cindy Denning

Cindy Denning

Joined
Apr 9, 2004
Messages
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I don't make it a habit of touching an exhibit at a museum because you aren't suppose to do that. This was different than anything I had ever seen. Not pretty but the story it told, by silently reading the chart in front of it made me want to touch it because it said I could, anyone could. But to be careful because there were very rough and jagged metal that was thick in some places and twisted to a degree. I put my hand on it and rubbed an area and thought back to that day of what we know now and the innocent day before this piece of metal got this way. It was a heavy beam that fell from one of the towers of The World Trade Center on loan to travel to museums across the country. It wasn't advertised and I really ran across it. Quite a sight to see.
 
A good friend of mine was the Chief of Police of Port Authority Jim Romito, he was one of the last bodies pulled from the basement of the Towers, his Fiance was also the sister of one of my best friends, when the Towers fell she was devasted, when they finally found Jims body she was unervingly relieved, she died about two months ago.

Sadly her brother, my longtime friend had lost his 40 year old wife to an aneurysm a year and a half earlier.

He had to go through his sisters house so they could sell it, it was very hard because the house was filled with memories of his sister and Jim and mementos of the Trade Center.

I helped him move some of the stuff from the house and as he was dropping me off at home at the end of the day he handed me a 4 pound block of plasma cut steel, when I asked him what it was and why he was givin' it to me he told me it was one of the last pieces of the Trade Center to be removed with Jim and he wanted me to have it because of all the help and support I'd given him and his sister over the last 30+ years.

I gotta tell ya when my hands wrapped around that piece of steel I was totally overwhelmed with emotion, I felt the tears begin to well up inside me as I remembered that bright sunny day in September not so long ago, and the memories of Jim and Mary.

The steel now sits on the mantle over the fireplace and everytime I pass it since I got it a week ago I feel compelled to touch it and the sad feelings still engulf me.

I don't know what to do with it, keep it as it is, donate it, turn it into a knife, no matter what I do with it it'll always hold a special place in my heart.

About two years or so ago I had asked for some of the forumites to help me make a knife for Mary and her son Bobby in memory of Jim, because his duty knife was a Buck 110 a knife was donated and rehandled by these people, not only that but a plaque was made in the shape of a badge and an inscription was engraved on a brass plate.

Taking down the plaque and handing it to Bobby for a second time was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Thanks to all who helped, you know who you are and Cindy thanks for lettin' a Crazy Old Hungarian remember on your thread.

Thanks
 
Thanks Gollnick, I know you could...it took me about a minute to be surprised to see it but this is yours as it is mine for historic reasons and never will there be this generation of people that witnessed it even on television again as it happened. Mr Erdelyi, you are welcomed and that is quite a story! I actually forgot the anniversary date this September of 9/11 and usually I am a wreck when that rolls around...I never, ever want to forget that day when NBC's Katie Couric and Al Roker innocently broadcast the first plane that hit the tower and Hell soon to follow in mere minutes.
 
we must NEVER forget what "they" did.


NEVER.:mad:

MadHungarian TErdyli, good for you for being human! I appreciate your sorrow and the simple fact that your friend, along with other HEROES, will NOT be forgotten.

RIP

please people, do NOT let this just "go away" in our minds and hearts.
 
We have a small memorial in front of the town hall in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, with a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. I don't how many people notice. It's only right in front of them.

No, lets not forget, or forgive.

Find the enemy, and KILL him.
 
I did not want to let go of it as crazy as that sounds, these people were just as innocent as any of us. I suppose it was the fact I could never make this right for the innoncent people involved in those towers or the firefighters, police, and rescue workers that died after they all fell. A maternal instinct to hold them I guess, or more like compassion.
 
A comment was made at Jims memorial service(they didn't have his body to bury yet) by the priest, he said, "This is one tragedy when it's all said and done, that will have affected everyone in this world."

Almost everyone you talk to either personally knew someone who was murdered that day, or had a friend who knew someone.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
The steel now sits on the mantle over the fireplace and everytime I pass it since I got it a week ago I feel compelled to touch it and the sad feelings still engulf me.

I don't know what to do with it, keep it as it is, donate it, turn it into a knife, no matter what I do with it it'll always hold a special place in my heart.


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JMHO, but I wouldn't have a knife made from that metal. I believe a knife should be made to commemorate a happy occasion and not from material that evokes such sadness and is tied in with the death of thousands.

It's your material and I'm surely not telling you what to do with it, but I just get a bad feeling thinking about a knife made from it.
Maybe I'm just too superstitious.:confused:
 
Esav Benyamin said:
We have a small memorial in front of the town hall in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, with a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. I don't how many people notice. It's only right in front of them.

No, lets not forget, or forgive.

Find the enemy, and KILL him.
Click to expand...

That day, the event, and the losses should never be forgotten or forgiven. Justice has yet to be served upon them. :mad:
 
Mike Hull said:
JMHO, but I wouldn't have a knife made from that metal. I believe a knife should be made to commemorate a happy occasion and not from material that evokes such sadness and is tied in with the death of thousands.

It's your material and I'm surely not telling you what to do with it, but I just get a bad feeling thinking about a knife made from it.
Maybe I'm just too superstitious.:confused:
Click to expand...

I'm gonna keep it as it is, your right about making it a knife, I wouldn't feel right about making it a knife either, I could never use it.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I'm gonna keep it as it is, your right about making it a knife, I wouldn't feel right about making it a knife either, I could never use it.
Click to expand...
I would never put an idea in your head my friend, but what if you did? The old saying of making chicken manure in to chicken salad comes to mind, just kicking the can on what possibilities could happen. Nothing would take the hurt away but shaping such a piece by your hands may feel like a better acomplishment in a way?
 
I haven't felt so emotional or confused by an inanimate, albeit haunted piece of steel since I picked up the knife my Dad was carrying when his plane crashed into a farmers field in Whitehose Station NJ back in 1975.

For now it sit's on the mantle, probably one of my most prized possession.
 
I think it would be a real honor to turn it into a knife, but I think it has more meaning as a piece of steel, mainly that we will not be broken, we will always stay together.
 
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