A 9/11 beam to rise in Holbrook

A piece of 9/11 will be dedicated in Holbrook this weekend.

The William B. Dalton American Legion Post 137 will place a 6-foot column beam from the North Tower that collapsed during the 9/11 attacks in New York City.

The ceremony this Sunday afternoon will complete a four-year process since the Holbrook post first started to request a piece of the property from the terrorist attack. Post officials first began asking the New York/New Jersey Port Authority in 2011 for an artifact from one of the World Trade Center’s Towers.

After it received word that it would receive the one-ton beam, it began construction for a spot on the front lawn to permanently display the piece. The 20x20 concrete display setting will be near a list of all those killed during 9/11, along with others killed in terrorist attacks like the Fort Hood shooting or the more recent one in Tennessee.

“It’s quite an honor to display such a piece on the front lawn,” said Paul A. Anastasio, senior vice commander of the post. “Eighty percent of the members is made up from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, so it’s great symbolism for those guys.”

The post hopes to pay for the approximately $20,000 construction costs for the beam setting, which also includes lighting, by selling tickets to the dedication Aug. 16 from 5-9 p.m. Visit www.holbrooklegion.com for tickets.

The post also is selling memorial bricks to be engraved with the name of a loved one who has served in the military.

The beam was picked up Wednesday morning from the Port Authority, but it first will make a detour to North Carolina to lead a memorial bike run for U.S.M.C. Sniper Sgt. Rob Richards. Immediately following the memorial run, the beam will head north to Holbrook American Legion Post 137, where it will be permanently placed for public display. A police escort will accompany the beam during the last several miles of its journey.

The column is just the latest in the prestige added to the post. The Legion just finished a two-year remodeling job that has turned the post into the number one ranked post in membership percentage in the state. It also has a new 21st Century Veterans Club.

The Aug. 16 program is as follows:

5:30-6:30 p.m.: Cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres.

6:15/6:30 p.m.: Escort of beam – arrival.

There will be a brief ceremony with guest speakers from New York Police Department, Army Ranger veteran, Marine veteran, Gold Star mother, MC retired Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Christian.

Several local fire departments also will be represented. And there will be a rifle squad.

Memorial lights will be turned on after the ceremony around civil twilight.