MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Cabell County man who worked as a FEMA volunteer in search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center arranged for 9/11 artifacts to be placed at a Huntington healing field.
Tom Bowen and his three sons are part of the convoy escorting the remnants to Spring Hill Cemetery.
“From New York all the way to West Virginia, fire departments from small towns and big cities lining up on bridges and overpasses, fire departments raising their ladders and flags draped, it’s just been very moving,” described Bowen.
Healing fields are large tracts of land covered in American flags in memory of the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
“I made the phone calls to some contacts to New York and they authorized us to receive several pieces of artifacts from the World Trade Center to use in permanent memorial at the healing field,” Bowen said.
The artifacts will serve as a reminder of how the 9/11 attacks impacted America.
“Not just the tragedy but how a lot of great things also came out of that. That is some of the relationships that were forged between people in the wake of that that do this day continue,” Bowen recalled. “Out of the ashes sometimes comes great triumph. I think that’s one of the great messages of September 11th.”
The motorcade that included a flat bed truck hauling the American flag draped artifacts, police escorts and motorcyclists with Patriot Guard Riders stopped to fill up and for a break off the Interstate 79 Goshen Road exit just after noon Thursday before an expected 6 p.m. arrival in Huntington.
“I know we’re going to be heading into some weather. Just say a prayer and think of these families. Remember what this is all about,” said during the trip.
A 7 p.m. ceremony is scheduled at Pullman Square. In the event of rain, it will be held at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.