12 N.J. communities receiving steel from World Trade Center

Twelve communities in New Jersey are receiving pieces of steel from the World Trade Center that will be part of memorials to remember the victims of the 9-11 attacks.

Twelve communities in New Jersey are receiving pieces of steel from the World Trade Center that will be part of memorials to remember the victims of the 9-11 attacks.

More than 600 New Jersey residents died when the twin towers collapsed after terrorists flew planes into the buildings in September of 2001.

Marie Bethke attended the ceremony at the Colonial Fire Station in Hamilton Township where a piece of steel from the destroyed trade center was presented. Her son Bill worked in one of the towers and was one of the victims.

“I’m just glad that they’re remembering and honoring my son and everyone else that was lost,” Bethke said. “But they’re also honoring all the people that went up there and worked that day and helped clean up. Bill would have liked that.”

Construction crews are working around the clock to rebuild at the Trade Center site.

Port Authority deputy executive director Bill Baroni says the 9-11 memorial there will be open by the 10th anniversary of the attacks next year. He says the entire project should be completed within three years.