GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Every September 11, the Gig Harbor Fire Department hosts a ceremony to honor the 343 firefighters who died in the 2001 attacks in New York City.
But visitors to Station 50 can pay tribute every day of the year. The fire department has a half-ton piece of steel from one of the World Trade Centers at a memorial site in front of the station.
Visitors can touch the steel, believed to have come from somewhere above the 50th floor of one of the towers.
"Letting people get that connection to the actual steel, we found that to be extremely important,” said Gig Harbor Fire Lt. Kent Cooper.
Cooper was one of four Gig Harbor firefighters who drove the piece from New York City in 2011.
“It was life-changing,” said Cooper, who said he was moved when they were shown other surviving artifacts, including fire trucks crushed by debris.
Cooper said whenever he comes to the station, he pauses at the memorial site.
"Whether it be for a just quick little second, I place my hand on the steel and say a little prayer and then continue on my day,” said Cooper.
He said now-retired firefighter Dale Togstad headed up the effort to bring the steel to Gig Harbor.