HUDSON - A nine-ton rusted steel beam made its way from Ground Zero in lower Manhattan to New Hampshire on Thursday, reminding residents of the tragedy that took the life of one of Hudson's own.

“There is death written all over it, but there are still lives that we must remember,” said Teri Pilon, who brought her 18-year-old son, Andrew, to view the 23-feet long beam that traveled from New York City to Hudson's central fire station.

It was a sobering moment for those people who paused to watch the magnificent steel structure draped with an American flag make its way into town. Later this year it will be the center of a much-anticipated memorial for the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.

Capt. Dave Morin of the Hudson Fire Department spearheaded the efforts to obtain the steel structure that will soon be housed at Benson Park. On Thursday, his motivation paid off as several local firefighters were able to receive a tour of the hangar where the artifacts from the collapsed Twin Towers are being housed in New York City.

“We stood there in total awe,” Morin said. “The mood of everyone changed at that point and it become much more emotional and real. It was truly amazing.”

Local firefighters and residents gathered to catch a glimpse of the beam during a brief ceremony Thursday.

“Those images that we saw on TV 10 years ago were brought to life today for us,” said Selectman Roger Coutu, who said the experience of visiting the site of the fallen Twin Towers was physically draining.

It was that raw emotion and horrific image that made Sept. 11, 2001, more than just something seen on television, but rather an inspiring appreciation for those people who serve our country, according to Coutu.

Despite being attacked and despite all of the suffering, this country overcame the unimaginable, said Morin, adding Hudson will not forget its own resident, David Kovalcin, who was aboard one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center.

His widow, Elizabeth Kovalcin, planned to visit the town hall Thursday night to see the support beam that once stood on an elevator shaft on the 23rd floor of the first tower.

“Some days it doesn't feel like it has already been 10 years, yet other times it seems like it was forever ago,” Elizabeth Kovalcin said last week. “I can't wait to be able to bring the kids to Ground Zero and let them truly experience it all, but they are still young.”

Her daughters, now 13 and 11, were just babies at the time of their father's death.

The piece of steel brought to New Hampshire from that horrific crash site will be a reminder of what this nation has been through and what it still has to look forward to, according to Morin.

“This steel will let us not forget,” he said. “This steel will show them that their service is not forgotten.”

Town officials praised Morin for taking on the endeavor, along with all of the committee members who are trying to give residents a place where they can reflect and remember those that were lost nearly 10 years ago.

What really makes the town of Hudson special are the tremendous people like Morin who go beyond what is expected, said Selectman Rick Maddox, adding Benson Park will soon be a great facility with an exceptional monument.

The new memorial is expected to be dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attack this September. Morin said it will mark a day of patriotism, triumph and rebirth.

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