Twenty-five years after 9/11, a piece of history sits outside the Meaford Fire Department walls, serving as a reminder of the tragedy and the lives lost. A steel beam from one of the Twin Towers was brought from New York to Meaford, Ont., 11 years after the terror attack. The beam is one of six in all of Canada. Rob Pilon, fire chief of the Meaford Fire Department said the town is lucky to have it. “We have a piece of history that you can touch, that was part of all of it, We’re very lucky to have it,” said Pilon. “I really want everybody to understand that it’s here.” “Come and visit it and give a couple of minutes of silence and pay their respects,” he said. Dozens of residents, paramedics, police and firefighters from the town and surrounding regions came together on Friday. Dept. Fire Chief Cole Dales was just seven years old when the attacks happened. Although his memories of the day are limited, he said remembering those who lost their lives remains important. “Definitely getting a little emotional there, remembering all the people that served, all the people that helped out and it affected the entire world,” said Dales. 9/11 COVERAGE: Doug and Linda Buchanan attended the reflection on Friday. “We all remember 9/11 like it was yesterday, so we thought we should show up and pay our respects,” said Doug Buchanan. The ceremony lasted 25 minutes, reflections and a prayer was said as well as a moment of silence. Shirley Keaveney, longtime Meaford resident, said the remembrance made her proud of the community she grew up in. “Really special, really emotional,” said Keaveney. “Made me feel really proud of our community, of our first responders and it was a pleasure to be here.” The steel beam has been outside the fire department since it arrived in 2012, a single rose was placed on top of it Friday. The beam is about 20 feet long, Dales added the presence of the beam can leave people looking at it mesmerized. “The community needs to remember why it’s here, how we got it,” said Dales. “You get goosebumps walking by it, because of the impact that this has on not only the community, but essentially Canada.” The beam serves as a reminder to those who remember exactly where they were that day. “We don’t want to think of of tragedy and always remember it, but here we are and when we do think of it, you feel the warmth of everybody getting together,” said Pilon. “You could feel that. I think everybody that was here remembers that day and and and cares enough to be here,” he said. “We have some people on our fire department right now that weren’t even born when the tragedy happened, so to have that impact and share our thoughts and prayers and just (shows) the impact of had on the entire world,” said Dales. “I think it’s fortunate for the entire world and curriculum in school is to remember what happened, why it happened, and how the world went forward after.” The Meaford Fire Department remains open to the public on Friday until 8 p.m. welcoming visitors to stop by and remember.
