A Chicago artist's tribute to 9-11-01 firefighters is at the state fair     Send a link to a friend

[AUG. 8, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- Among the many exciting and interesting activities and displays at the Illinois State Fair this year, there is one that is a must-see: a sculpture paying tribute to the 343 firefighters who died Sept. 11, 2001. The sculpture was designed by Chicago firefighter and artist John E. Alaniz and was scheduled to arrive Aug. 6 at the Illinois Fire Museum on the state fairgrounds.

The sculpture incorporates remnants of steel from ground zero and a piece of ladder 10, from the first ladder company to arrive on scene that day, which was crushed and buried by the collapse of the twin towers.

The sculpture is brought to the state fair courtesy of Sal Banchitta, CEO of Akemi North America and a retired NYC firefighter.

The history of the artist's tribute to firefighters began in February 1998, when two Chicago firefighters lost their life in the line of duty. Alaniz was struck by such emotion that he wanted to incorporate his art with his firefighting career to do something that would to memorialize these firefighters. He decided to bronze cast two fire helmets with the names and fire companies of the fallen members.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Alaniz began a separate memorial work of art to pay tribute to the brave 343 New York City firefighters who lost their life on that tragic day.

Sal Banchitta was an active New York City firefighter on Sept. 11, 2001, and met Alaniz while on duty. Engine Company 316, Banchitta's firehouse, welcomed Alaniz as a "guest of honor" during his stay in New York, and Banchitta assisted Alaniz in the storage and shipping of the memorial. Every piece of the memorial is authentic, according to Banchitta and Alaniz.

Many individuals and companies worked diligently to acquire materials and offered time and services of storage, shipping and handling, according to Banchitta.

 

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"We are so grateful to Mr. Banchitta for his generosity to ship the piece to us. The sculpture is such a powerful display, and his offer to share this with us is an awesome tribute to his fellow firefighters," says Juliann Heminghous, public information officer for the state fire marshal.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal organized the delivery of the sculpture to share with the fire services of Illinois as well as the public and to bring recognition to the Chicago firefighter and artist who created this powerful structure.

While the final resting stop for the sculpture is unknown, it is on loan to Illinois until the Illinois Firefighting Medal of Honor and Memorial Awards ceremonies, which will take place May 13, 2004.

For more information, please contact the Illinois state fire marshal's public information office, (217) 785-1021.

[News release from the
Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal]

 


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