The fifteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has passed and Ground Zero in Manhattan held another year of tribute. Every year on September 11, the Twin Towers in the form of beams of light illuminate the night time New York City sky resembling the lost Twin Towers. This “Tribute in Light” has been presented to the public by the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The light reaches four miles into the sky and is visible from a 60-mile radius. This event is to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.

  For the first time ever the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York has unveiled its first ever art exhibition. “Rendering the unthinkable: Artists respond to 9/11” is an exhibit of artwork by 13 New York City based artists impacted by the 9/11 attacks. Each work of art displays the artist’s reaction to the event. This exhibit of artwork ranges from paper and video to media of sculptures and paintings. This new exhibit opened on Sept. 12, 2016.

  In October 2015, four Poudre Fire Authority firefighters escorted a 5-foot long, 3500 pound I-beam that was salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center from Manhattan, N.Y. to Fort Collins, Colo. The unveiling of this beam became the focal point for Poudre Fire Authority’s memorial ceremony in midtown Fort Collins — 15 years after terrorist attacks left it in a pile of rubble in New York City.

  Locally, the Sheridan Fire-Rescue unveiled a bronze statue created to resemble firefighter Captain Ed Green who died of cancer in September 2007. Green worked for the fire station for 26 years. He is pictured holding a firehose while battling a lumber yard fire on July 4, 1979. Sculptor Jerry Smiley was the artist selected to create the bronze piece in January 2012. Sheridan Fire-Rescue then began fundraising for the statue and set their goal at $50,000.00. The final fundraising through Frackelton’s restaurant and Sheridan Public Arts Committee helped meet their goal and make the last payment.

  The ceremony began with the ringing of the firehouse bell and the assembling of the Sheridan firefighters as they shared a moment of silence with law enforcement, EMT, and other emergency agencies in remembrance of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

  The moment of silence was held at the exact time that the first attacks occurred on the Twin Towers fifteen years ago. Doves were released after the silence and Reverend John Meyer began prayer. Tribute in song was played by bagpipe player Bob MacLean as he played Amazing Grace. There was a speech given and background on Green and how the statue project began and ended. During the speech, two firemen unveiled the statue to the public who was then invited into the fire station for doughnuts and coffee.