Just as those of us who are really old remember exactly where we were and exactly what we were doing when JFK was assassinated in late November of 1963, everyone who is over 30 vividly recalls the morning of 9/11/2001, when the crystal blue late summer sky suddenly turned black with smoke when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46 AM. The ensuing horror and the endless hours before many of us would find out if friends and loved ones had survived or perished that morning has had a lasting effect on many of us. This August, we will be offered a rare opportunity to visit the mobile exhibit “Never Forget 9/11” when it comes to Easton on the 8th and 9th of next month when the Congregational Church of Easton and the Staples Academy Foundation will co-host the event.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created by the family of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who lost his life while trying to save those trapped in the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. It is meant to honor his memory and carry on his legacy. Siller died after strapping 60 pounds of gear on his back and rushing on foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to access the Towers.
In 2013, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation launched the “9/11 Never Forget” mobile exhibit. This high-tech exhibition venue is carried within an 83-foot tractor-trailer unit that, when parked, transforms into an eleven hundred square foot museum that commemorates the sacrifices of the 343 members of the FDNY who lost their lives on that day, as well as those who continue to suffer and die from their exposure to the toxic atmosphere created by the fire and collapse of the towers. This exhibit serves as a teaching tool to help educate people about the tragic results of that fateful Tuesday morning in New York.
According to the Foundation’s website, “This memorial provides interactive education, including artifacts such as steel beams from the towers, documentary videos, and recordings of first responder radio transmissions. Interactive guided tours are carried out by FDNY firefighters who provide firsthand accounts of the day and its aftermath. The 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit, which has traveled to nearly 50 states and Canada, has welcomed in over 600,000 people to date.”
900 free tickets have been made available for timed access to the exhibit. A maximum of four timed-tickets will be available for each patron. Details can be found on the Staples Academy Foundation website: https://staplesacademyfoundation.org/
Free tickets are available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tunnels-to-towers-mobile-museum-tickets-1505225071709?aff=oddtdtcreator
It is highly suggested that tickets be reserved to avoid what are traditionally long lines for entry. People without tickets will be allowed entry on a first-come, first-served basis as room and time permits, but those with tickets will be accommodated at the time printed on their ticket. Times are set at 30-minute intervals to allow visitors ample time to explore the exhibit.
Free, continuous shuttle service provided by the Easton Senior Center will be available from the Senior Center parking lot at 650 Morehouse Road.
Entry hours for public viewing of the exhibit are August 8th from 3 PM until 5:30 PM, and on August 9th from Noon until 5:30 PM.
In addition to the Staples Academy Foundation and the Congregational Church of Easton, local sponsors, among others, include the Easton Volunteer Fire Company, the Easton EMS, the Historical Society of Easton, Hi-Ho Energy Services, the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, the Palmieri Farm, Amodex, The Old Blue Bird Garage, and the Senior Center of Easton. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors, this event will be totally free of charge to the public. Please join us for the chance to experience this moving tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11. This is just another example of how Easton’s non-profits work in conjunction with each other and our local businesses to better serve the entire community.
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