9-11 Wilder

On September 11, 2001, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial US jetliners, deliberately crashing two of the planes into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center and a third plane into the Pentagon. After learning of the other attacks, passengers and crew members on the fourth plane attempted to commandeer control, and the plane was crashed into an empty field in Western Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on that day, the single largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil.

The New York & New Jersey Port Authority made available artifacts from the World Trade Center to over 1100 municipalities throughout the United States. The City of Tampa received two artifacts from the New York & New Jersey Port Authority, both of which have been incorporated into memorials that can be found on Bayshore Blvd and Bay to Bay and at the Tampa Firefighters Museum in downtown Tampa.

"Are you guys ready?
Okay. Let's Roll!"

- United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer's last words as heard by operator Lisa Jefferson at 9:55 a.m. September 11, 2001

On 9/11, many individuals, on Flight 93, at the Pentagon and in the World Trade Center, acted selflessly and put the safety and security of others ahead of their own. This spirit of service continued beyond that day and into the aftermath of 9/11, inspiring people from around the world to come together and perform extraordinary acts of service.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, American citizens were vehement in procuring and displaying flags and related patriotic items. A group of Tampa citizens, wanting to show their support for American democratic values and the men and women in service to our country, met on this site; and in the face of grief, confusion, anxiety, and global volatility began to wave flags. These dedicated citizens are known as the Bayshore Patriots.

"In the face of enormous challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere overseas since 9/11, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coastguardsmen have demonstrated extraordinary initiative, determination, innovativeness, and courage. As they press on in their missions, nothing means more to them or their families than the sense that their sacrifices are appreciated.

Few communities have given them that sense as deeply or as frequently as the Tampa Bay community. Indeed, the citizens, organizations, and businesses of Tampa Bay repeatedly find ways to express appreciation for our troopers' service and for the sacrifices of our military families -- from tickets to ball games and flags along Bayshore to innumerable events to support Wounded Warriors in the VA hospital. These gestures add up to a huge and tangible "thank you" to our service members and their families -- and that is the very best form of support and appreciation that they could have as they continue their difficult work. In turn, those in uniform say "thanks" to the most supportive community in America!"

- General David H. Petraeus

"From the Minute Men at Concord and Lexington to the Firemen at the World Trade Center, tragedies and the challenges they thrust upon us have had the power to unite a diverse America. 9/11 was not an attack against New York or the Pentagon. Like Pearl Harbor, it was an assault on all Americans. 9/11 awakened America to the threats it will face in this 21st century and has galvanized our people to go on the offensive against our enemies. It is critical to our future that the men and women who lost their lives, as victims or heroes, that fateful Tuesday and the lessons we have learned from the tragedy of 9/11 not be forgotten."

- Senator Bob Graham

9/11 World Trade Center Artifact located at Bayshore & Bay to Bay

The World Trade Center site is represented as an elevated concrete base, matching the orientation and scale of the site in New York City. Thin aluminum members rise from the base, tracing the placement, material, and proportions of the twin towers. The memorial is one one-hundredth the scale of the actual towers and site. The steel WTC artifact, held above the base within the symbolic north tower, functions as a sundial. As the shadow of the artifact falls on the ground on the morning of September 11, the lower slab marks the duration of time from the first airplane's impact on the north tower to the subsequent collapse of the tower on September 11, 2001.

- WILDER ARCHITECTURE, INC.

The steel in this memorial is steel recovered from the World Trade Center after September 11, 2001 courtesy of the Port Authority of NY & NJ is displayed in memory of the nearly 3,000 victims including over 400 first responders. Special Thanks to the donated services of: WILDER ARCHITECTURE; Horus Construction Services, Inc; Miller Structural Engineering, Inc.;W.C. Sherill & Company; VoltAir, Inc.; C.E. Systems, Inc.; Sesco Lighting, Mineral Life International; and the partial donations by Desert Snake Offroad, LLC; Coastal Construction Products, Inc.; and Tampa Amalgamated Steel.