Mission
It is the mission of the Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responders Memorial to embrace the spirit of 9/11 and to honor the emergency responders of Winnebago County, who during the discharge of their duties, have made the ultimate sacrifice for the community they served. May we ALWAYS REMEMBER, NEVER FORGET.
Vision
The vision for this memorial emerged in 2011 when Winnebago County was awarded steel artifacts from the World Trade Center. The memorial site has become the final resting place for this steel.
The attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, culminated in the worst tragedy on American soil. Thousands of Americans were lost, including 411 emergency responders who made the supreme sacrifice. 9/11 became a day frozen in time—one that will forever provoke stirring images, year after year, as the date draws closer. As time passes, the message, “Always Remember, Never Forget” becomes increasingly important to carry forward.
Purpose
The Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responders Memorial pays homage to those who put themselves in harm’s way. Each day in Winnebago County, emergency responders answer countless calls for help and stand ready as the first line of defense. The memorial honors any Winnebago County emergency responder killed in the line of duty and serve as a timeless remembrance of the events of 9/11—a symbol of local and national unity.
Design
Designed by Larson & Darby Group, the memorial commemorates both national and local emergency responders who have been killed in the line of duty. It also honors the civilians lost September 11, 2001 during the worst terror attack in United States history. The memorial was designed to mark the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City; the Pentagon in Washington, DC; and the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. Each location is memorialized, with the World Trade Center steel artifact as a focal point. The memorial’s local side will feature the names of fallen emergency responders from Winnebago County. Personalized pavers surround the memorial, purchased by local donors in support of the project.
The Steel
The Steels beams were provided by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and delivered to Winnebago County on March 26th, 2011. Each steel beam is 7' long, 25" tall, 10" wide, and 1" thick, weighing 1000 pounds each. Human lives were lost when the building fell, but the steel stood long enough to allow for over 10,000 people to be rescued.
Location
West State Street and Kilburn Avenue