Solemn ceremonies in the last two weeks marked the end to the nearly nine-month-long ordeal at Ground Zero for police and fire personnel, and for families of the 2,825 victims. New York City's construction community also reflected on its own critical participation since Sept. 11. For many engineers, contractors, construction workers and others, the work at the former World Trade Complex is not yet over, while the memories of their experiences will not soon be forgotten.
Construction forces acknowledged their contribution to the successful cleanup effort at a May 28 twilight ceremony that included removal of the final 58-ton steel column, once part of the WTC's south tower. Workers from the carpenters', dockbuilders', laborers', ironworkers' and operating engineers' unions shared in the task of cutting, carrying and decorating the column in an American flag before it was trucked from the "pit" two days later for storage at Kennedy Airport, along with other Ground Zero relics.