The Kitsap 9/11 Memorial Project - Our Story

In August 2009, the assistant chief of Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue (CKF&R) was approached by three volunteer fire officers about a notice they had read regarding World Trade Center (WTC) steel artifacts being available to government and non-profit agencies. The artifacts became available through the September 11th Families Association and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority had stored pieces of steel that were recovered from the WTC for use in memorials around the world. Requirements stated that the steel be accessible to the public at all times and that it would not be used for personal collections or economic gain.

An application was submitted and on September 28, 2009, CKF&R of Silverdale, WA received confirmation that their request for steel artifacts from the WTC had been approved. There were hundreds of requests from all parts of the United States, as well as foreign countries. CKF&R was the third in the nation to apply, and the first in Washington State to receive approval.

In the fall of 2009, Leadership Kitsap team Serendipitous joined efforts with CKF&R to design a lasting memorial incorporating the steel. Their goal was to create a place of honor, reflection, empathy, remembrance and education for future generations. The newly formed team raised funds for the rigging and transportation of the steel from New York to Silverdale. They also designed a Kitsap 9/11 Memorial website and developed a "Heroes" curriculum for elementary students. The team worked with one 5th grade class from five school districts within Kitsap County to teach students about heroes and heroism on that September day. Each class participated in an interactive presentation on "What heroes mean to me" and each student painted a ceramic tile depicting the theme. As a result, approximately 150 student tiles will be incorporated into the memorial design.

The committee worked from February to August 2010 to raise funds and organize the transportation of two steel beams, weighing approximately 5,000 lbs. each, to Silverdale. In August 2009, the steel left New York, honorably wrapped in an American flag. During the journey across our nation many observers asked to touch and be photograph with the steel. On August 22 the steel was escorted the final 355 miles across Washington State by the Washington State Patriot Guard and approximately 800 motorcycles. A welcoming ceremony, attended by approximately 3,000 people, awaited the steel as it arrived at the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale, WA.

The current committee is a 501c3 non-profit organization and it is comprised of members from the original team as well as many new community members from throughout Kitsap County. The committee's vision of the memorial design is to incorporate four major elements to represent the twin towers, the Pentagon, the field in Pennsylvania, and the great country we live in. The committee was gifted with a piece of limestone that came from the façade of the Pentagon after it was struck. This stone will also be incorporated into the memorial design. Together the pieces will represent September 11 events that were miles apart, yet strongly tied together. The committee is working with Rice Fergus Architects and the City of Bremerton Parks department on the final memorial design.

The memorial will be constructed at the Evergreen-Rotary Park in Bremerton, Washington. A ground breaking ceremony was held at that location on 9/11/11.

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