Cinnaminson Marks 9/11 with WTC Steel Dedication

Cinnaminson dedicated a piece of World Trade Center steel during a solemn 9/11 ceremony Wednesday that paid tribute to the thousands that lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Committeeman Don Brauckmann said township administrator Frank Locantore, a former police captain and management official in Evesham (which has its own piece of World Trade Center steel), used his connections to acquire Cinnaminson's artifact through the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Locantore deflected, saying, "This is not about me," and admitted it was moving for Cinnaminson to have something so significant in its possession.

"It's really nice to bring something back to our township to honor this," Brauckmann echoed.

Multiple people spoke at Wednesday's ceremony, including Eva Schultz, president of the Palmyra Cinnaminson Riverton EMS. Schultz worked an overnight shift at Ground Zero and recalled the indelible memories she witnessed: "... The ambulance personnel that sat on pins and needles, hoping they would find someone alive that they could treat and take to the hospital; the international canteen who walked around 24 hours a day to serve coffee, tea, donuts and crackers to everyone; the Red Cross, who were bringing much-needed blood, and helping the families …. your own hometown ambulance squad and fire department, who went up and gave of themselves in any way we could."

Mayor Ben Young said the township's first responders will take the lead on finding and creating a permanent space for the steel to be displayed. The piece will be temporarily placed in the lobby of the municipal building. 

During her closing remarks, Sen. Diane Allen urged those in attendance not to forget the commitments and sacrifices of all first responders—both those who died on Sept. 11 and those who continue to serve. 

"We need to remember that these men and women in uniform made all the difference. We need to thank them," she said. "Every one of us, whoever we are, whether we’re wearing a uniform or not, we can make a huge difference … We learned this from 9/11. Do you remember the day after? We were together. We were the most amazingly united country that ever existed. There was a spirit that every one of us felt. We need to keep that spirit alive. That is the spirit that has always been America."