An 83-foot trailer commemorating 9/11 will be rolling into Quincy. Here's what to know
QUINCY − The city will commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by hosting a mobile exhibit presented by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Two Quincy natives who died in the attacks will be remembered. Kevin Connors was 55 and working as a senior executive of a brokerage firm in the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He grew up in Wollaston, graduated from BC High, and became a commissioned naval officer in 1969.
Susan A. Mackay was 44 and employed by Framingham-based TJX Co. when she boarded American Airlines Flight 11, destined for Los Angeles, at Logan Airport on Sept. 11. The plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing all 92 people on board. Mackay graduated from North Quincy High School in 1976.
An opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 3:30 p.m. at the McConville/Hannon Parking Lot, near the Generals Bridge and Park. The exhibit will be open to the public at the same location Sept. 20-23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Thomas Koch, Quincy Fire Chief Joseph Jackson and Quincy police Lt. William Ward, a former New York City police officer. Mother Olga, of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, will deliver an opening prayer.
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The Tunnel to Towers Foundation describes the "9/11 Never Forget" exhibit as a tribute to those who died during the attacks, including 343 New York City firefighters.
The 83-foot tractor-trailer has 1,100 square feet of exhibit space containing artifacts such as "steel beams from the towers, documentary videos and recordings of first responder radio transmissions," according to Tunnel to Towers' website.
Visitors will be able to take tours guided by New York City firefighters who responded to the 9/11 attacks.
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In addition to offering educational programs such as the mobile exhibit, the foundation helps injured veterans and first responders as well as the families of first responders who died while on duty.
Tunnel to Towers is named in honor of New York firefighter Stephen Siller. Off-duty when he heard of the attack on the World Trade Center, Siller drove his truck from Brooklyn toward ground zero in Manhattan, the website says.
When he reached the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, it had been closed for security reasons. Siller strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the tunnel, which is 1.7 miles long. He died at ground zero while trying to save victims of the attack.
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Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Tunnel to Towers Foundation's mobile 9/11 exhibit arrives in Quincy
