Steel beam from 9/11 stops in Sarasota on cross-country tour

SARASOTA, Fla. (WINK) — A 16,000-pound steel beam from the original World Trade Center arrived at Emma E. Booker Elementary School as part of the Tunnel to Towers Steel Across America tour, marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks.

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With a massive law enforcement escort, the beam rolled onto the school grounds, drawing large crowds. The event aimed to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died that day and ensure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.

Lana Thompson, a former teacher in Sarasota, remembered the moment 25 years ago when the second plane hit. She attended the event to hear from former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, who was with President George W. Bush at the school that day.

"It's beautiful to have the chief of staff with us today because we got to hear everything he went through to keep the President calm in front of the students," Thompson said.

Natalia Jones-Pinkney was a student in the classroom with President Bush when he received the news that America was under attack. She reflected on how young she was at the time, pointing to her own daughter.

"I was thinking last night as we were looking at everything. That I was this age. Imagine being this size, this age, and have all this going on," Jones-Pinkney said.

Krystal Davis, another student in the classroom that day, also attended the event. She brought her 7-year-old daughter and walked by the classroom where history unfolded.

"Its beyond important I told my 7-year-old who was here today, we walked by the classroom and to be back here, it's a remembrance. That day. Everything," Davis said.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is touring the country with the steel beam to educate the next generation about the events of Sept. 11. Andy Card, former chief of staff for President Bush, emphasized the importance of remembering those who responded.

"It's a call for gratitude for the people who responded to the call to duty. The firefighters and those who responded and made a difference saving lives, and to see this wonderful display is a conscious way to remember what happened and what the call to duty is," Card said.

The Steel Across America tour will travel more than 10,000 miles across the country and conclude on Sept. 11 in New York City at Ground Zero.