Indianapolis remembers 9/11 - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Eleven years ago this morning, our nation came under attack. For many of us, it seems like yesterday. But for our children, September 11th is something they read about in history books. That's why it is so important to take time to reflect on what happened that day, and honor those who lost their lives.
    
Flags have been lowered to half staff and President Barack Obama asked Americans to pause this morning at 8:46 and reflect. That's the moment the first airplane hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The biggest event in Indianapolis will be held at the 9/11 Memorial downtown tonight at 7:30. That's at 421 W. Ohio Street. People are expected to stop by the memorial all day long to think about what happened in New York, Washington and in Pennsylvania. 

The memorial on Ohio Street, near the downtown canal, was dedicated last year on September 11th.  It's the brain child of an Indianapolis firefighter who helped, as part of a task force, in the recovery efforts in New York City.  Two steel beams from the World Trade Center were brought to Indianapolis. The land here was donated by the City of Indianapolis and Hoosiers opened their wallets and donated the nearly $400,000 to build the memorial. 

Crown Hill Cemetery and Funeral Home helped with the design. "I think every American knows exactly where they were when they saw those planes hit," said Keith Norwalk of Crown Hill. "There were eight Hoosiers who perished in either the World Trade Center or the Pentagon so it touches everyone."

The 9/11 Memorial is open to the public year-round. By design, it's built next to steps leading to the canal, so you have to walk by to get to the canal on Ohio.  The placement is a subtle way to remind people to take a look as they pass by, and to never forget what happened. 

We may be hundreds of miles from New York City and few people here in Central Indiana were directly affected by the events of 9/11. But a lot of people feel an emotional connection, and the memorial gives people a place where they can come and reflect on what happened eleven years ago. 

"It's become a great symbol of the Indianapolis community that we've not forgotten that we will not forget," said Norwalk. "So it does become meaningful for everyone who experiences it."