PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles could soon be home to a piece of the World Trade Center.
Two Coast Guard servicemen have been approved to receive a 9-foot-long I-beam from one of the two skyscrapers destroyed Sept. 11, 2001, and hope to have it installed as a memorial on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
But first they need a sponsor.
The servicemen — Andrew Moravec and Sam Allen — said last week they are looking for a service club or nonprofit organization to take ownership of the beam so that it can be shipped from New York City.
By law, they said, only government agencies or nonprofit groups can receive wreckage recovered from ground zero.
The Coast Guard, which underwrote their application, can receive it, but only if he beam remains at the base in Port Angeles, they recently discovered.
“That doesn’t work because the base is not accessible,” said Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles Commander Kevin Gavin.
Gavin added the Coast Guard could not give it to the city.
Allen and Moravec, both aviation maintenance technicians at the Port Angeles station — and both with the rank of petty officer 2nd class — said they see it as a minor setback.
“We’re still taking care of raising funds,” Allen said.
“We just need somebody to say, “Yes, we’ll be responsible for this.’”
He said it will cost about $650 to have the I-beam delivered.
Moravec and Allen want to place the memorial at Francis Street Park.
The city’s Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission approved that plan in October 2009.
The city of Port Angeles has declined to take ownership until it arrives in the city.
Richard Bonine, city recreation services manager, said the issue is liability.
Bonine said he’s concerned that the beam could be damaged in transport.
“We’re still in support of the project 100 percent,” he said. “We just can’t take ownership of something we have no control over.”
Moravec said he was ecstatic when he received notice from the New York Port Authority in December that their request for a piece of the trade center had been approved.
“I was extremely ecstatic,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
The servicemen applied for the I-beam one year earlier.
The memorial may cost a few hundred dollars to create, they said.
Allen said they are working with Port Angeles artists Laurel Black and Bob Stokes to finish the design.
Moravec said they envision having the I-beam stand over a large rock.
“As far as the design goes, nothing is official,” he added.
Allen said he will transfer to Puerto Rico in July and doesn’t expect to see the monument put in place.
“I’ll be satisfied as long as it gets here,” he said.
Allen said anyone who wants to help establish the memorial can contact him at 360-808-4138.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
