Suwanee Gets a Piece of 9/11 History

Almost 10 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, a piece of the destroyed World Trade Center towers has made its way to Suwanee.

The journey for the 1,600-pound piece of steel began about a year ago when the Port Authority of New York contacted various municipalities in the U.S. about their interest in remnants from the attacks. Suwanee responded. It was being done in connection with the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The final step came this week, when the artifact left a JFK airport hangar in Jamaica, N.Y., on Tuesday and arrived at a UPS shipping center in the Sugarloaf area Thursday morning. UPS worked the final leg to Suwanee public works headquarters off Buford Highway.

Suwanee officials only were responsible for the $1,000 shipping cost. There are approximately 24 other such 9/11 artifacts being shipped to Georgia; Loganville will have the only other one in the Gwinnett area.

Its final site in Suwanee has yet to be determined. The new police substation on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road at I-85 was one working plan, but that is under review by city officials after thoughts expressed at a City Council work session Thursday evening.

A 9/11 ceremony of some kind is planned in Suwanee. Also, Suwanee officials may take an arts tack and issue RFPs for artists to enhance the piece, though maintaining the integrity is paramount.

"It's a memorial," Mayor Dave Williams said Thursday.

Other possible locations for the historical artifact are between the Suwanee Police headquarters and the Gwinnett Fire station on Buford Highway across from Town Center, and one of the city's many parks, including Town Center Park. Officials also may temporarily display the piece in front of City Hall until a permanent site is determined.

City Manager Marty Allen has been directed to explore possible locations via technology; he will "photoshop" pictures of the piece taken Thursday into pictures of various locations around the city for visual input. Officials hope to make a decision in the next 30 days.

"People will be drawn to it," Council Member Jimmy Burnette said.