Community Corner

Did You Know You Can Experience 9/11 History in Birmingham?

A piece of twisted steel from the World Trade Center is on permanent display at the Adams Street Fire Station.

Tuesday marks the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City's World Trade Center, and going on a second year now, Birmingham residents can experience a bit of that history first-hand.

A piece of damaged, twisted steel — around one foot tall and wide — is currently on permanent display in the lobby, a gift to the city from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The steel artifact was unveiled in a , the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

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"Even thinking about 9/11 tends to take my breath away," said Lilly Epstein Stotland, a Birmingham resident who lived in New York City at the time of the attacks, during the 2011 ceremony. "It was an absolutely beautiful morning ... We suddently heard and felt a significant crash."

More than 200 attended the somber ceremony last year, including Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI).

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"We saw evil in the deeds of few, but we saw good in the hearts of millions," Peters said. "(9/11) united us in spirit of kindness and dignity. That is what America was founded on, and that's what America has always been about."

To visit the piece of steel, visitors must first be buzzed into the front lobby of the fire station. Two framed paintings commemorating 9/11 also hang in the station's front hall.

County plans several ceremonies, including event at Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial

The city of Birmingham has scheduled no official 9/11 remembrance on Tuesday, though there are several ceremonies planned county-wide.

Oakland County will be sponsoring Michigan's first Liberty Tree in honor of the date; the tree will be planted in the south courtyard of the Oakland County Circuit Court building at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Oakland County Circut Judge Michael Warren and Chief Deputy County Executive Gerald Poisson will take part in the event.

Also in Pontiac, there will be a special ceremony at the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial at 11 a.m. Tuesday, featuring local firefighter and law enforcement associations as well as Oakland County Sheriff, Birmingham resident and Michigan Fallen Heroes founder Michael Bouchard.

Though the Birmingham Firefighters Association officially won't be attending either of those ceremonies, that doesn't mean firefighters won't be remembering that September day, said Paul Wells, president of the Birmingham Firefighters Association.

"We will, however I'm sure, recall were we were that horrible day 11 years ago," said Wells. "Its something we will never forget. My heart's heavy just in (thinking) about 9/11."


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