Newest Exhibit At Police Museum Honors WTC Police Heroes Of September 11, 2001

The newest exhibit at the American Police Hall of Fame will be a specially-commissioned seven-foot-high monument which pays tribute to the seventy one police heroes who lost their lives at the site of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. The names of each officer who made the supreme sacrifice that day will be etched into the “ghosts” of the towers. The actual structural beams from the World Trade Center as well as portions of the aircraft wreckage are used in this everlasting memorial to America’s darkest day.

How This Unique Exhibit Evolved
Dr. Sara Gray Long, the organization’s clinical psychologist with offices in Norwich, New York, rushed to New York City upon hearing of the terrorist attacks to offer grief counseling services not only for police families, but for all who did not know the fate of their loved ones during the first few days after the tragedy. Dr. Long made contact with several police captains from NYPD at the makeshift bereavement center that was established at a nearby armory. Dr. Long worked nonstop in counseling and offering support to family members. In the wake of the horrific events of that day, Capt. Christopher Trucillo of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and officials of NYPD promised Dr. Long that sections of the melted and tangled Twin Towers as well as parts of the ill-fated airplanes would be held and entrusted to her to present to the American Police Hall of Fame as part of an exhibit to honor those heroes.

A Daunting Task
In the midst of arranging for checks from our organization for emergency assistance and grief counseling grants to be presented to each of the seventy one police families that suffered a loss that day, Dr. Long sought the aid of the Norwich, New York Police Department who held the twisted beams and airplane parts in a locked and secured area of their police department facility. Dr. Long was faced with what carrier would be used to transport the hallowed items to the Police Museum in Miami, more than 1,200 miles from her local police department.

A Car Trip In The Midst Of Winter
After assessing several options, Dr. Long had volunteers from her local police department load the exhibit materials into her own car. She drove the exhibit to Miami. Her only company on the trip was a cat which she recently adopted and named “Chance”. She was greeted at the Police Museum by Executive Director Donna Shepherd, Editor Jim Gordon, Curator Derrick Van Brode and host of staff and volunteers who helped unload the car and arrange for parts of the mangled tower and airplane wreckage to be sent to a custom exhibition designer who also was responsible for creating the “eternal flame” at the APHF.

Costs Nearly Prohibitive
While the costs involved in the procurement, construction, engraving and maintenance of this exhibit were nearly prohibitive, (most of our exhibits are donated) our staff felt that an exhibit of this magnitude must be commissioned to honor the police heroes of America’s darkest day. “We would hope”, said Executive Editor Jim Gordon, “that many of our friends and donors would go the extra mile and assist with a donation that would — at least in part — cover the cost of construction and maintenance of this very special exhibit.” Gordon explained that no government money and no donations from family survivors would be sought for this exhibit. “If our generous donors to our programs would each do their share, I know this hallowed exhibit will offer the victims families some peace, solace and perhaps closure as they visit our museum and memorial in the months to come.” said Gordon.