“Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? on September 11th, 2001, impacted every American. While these acts of terrorism were intended to divide and conquer, Americans came together, united in a commitment to NEVER FORGET. In this spirit, Poudre Fire Authority and The City of Fort Collins are collaborating to construct a 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park. The Memorial will feature a 3,000-pound steel I-Beam salvaged from the World Trade Center gifted to PFA in recognition of nine Northern Colorado firefighters who assisted with search, rescue, and recovery at Ground Zero. The memorial will give this artifact a place of honor in our community creating a space for residents and visitors to reflect.
911 Memorial in Fort Collins
In 2001, Tim Doran, who is currently the Fort Collins Assistant Chief of Police, was an FBI Agent assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Washington DC. He led the investigation of the 9/11attack on the Pentagon. Because of this experience, Doran remains faithful in his commitment to NEVER FORGET. According to Doran, “It’s critical to remember the lessons learned from9/11 and to acknowledge the progress made in preventing terrorism.”
For Jason Patello, a father of two who now lives in Fort Collins, 9/11 remains the most formative event of his life. Patello worked in the NYC financial district. When the towers fell, he took shelter in a loading dock as the debris cloud nearly engulfed him. He considers his survival a miracle. “My greatest take-away, and the lesson I hope to pass on to my children, is that we are better (as a nation) together. Hate can consume us, but the unity Americans felt following September 11th gives me hope!“ Patello said.
Remembering 9/11 at a local level ensures this collective resilience remains in our nation’s narrative for future generations. To learn more about the project and to share your 9/11 story, visit www.911memorialfortcollins.org.