Lake Mohegan Fire Department's 9/11 Memorial to be Completed Sept. 18

The Lake Mohegan Fire Department's 9/11 Memorial is set to be completed and unveiled on Sunday, Sept. 18. Various organizations and businesses have been putting their efforts together to make it a reality. 

The Memorial is made up of two World Trade Center rusty steel beams, each weighing 450 pounds and about four feet in length, that from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in May. It will be placed in front of the Jefferson Valley fire station. 

Thursday afternoon two workers from Griffin's Landscaping, a company based in Peekskill, were placing a stone wall around the two beams, as part of the memorial. The words "Never Forget" will be enscribed on the wall in black letters on a brass background modelled after the navy ship U.S.S. New York, which was also built with World Trace Center streel.

Former Lake Mohegan fire Commissioner Steven Yagoda put in a request to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey almost two years ago to take "home" the two World Trade Center steal pieces. He said he is glad the memorial is finally coming together.

"It's very gratifying that people have been stopping by to stand there and reflect on it," he said. "It's really good that people are touched by it."

Yagoda said fire commissioner Bob Gordineer has been instrumental in getting various organizations involved with the projects. People have been donating labor and materials to make it a reality. Highland Welding of Peekskill has fabricated the concrete supporting system for the two steel beams; and the Yorktown Leo Club members have been helping the fire department raise money for the 9/11 memorial.

"It will be a nice memorial," Gordineer said. "It's not elaborate. It's something we can afford."