On Thursday afternoon, Oct. 5th at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, there will be a procession to transfer the Ground Zero Cross (also known as the Last Artifact) from its present site in the WTC near the corner of Church and Cortland Sts. to three blocks north on the exterior of St. Peter's Church which is located on Church and Barclay Sts. This Last Artifact is actually a t-beam which was erected with numerous other t-beams during the construction of the original Twin Towers during the late 60's and early 70's. On Sept. 13, 2001, a construction worker named Frank Silecchia, discovered this cross-like beam amid the ruins of WTC 6 during the rescue and recovery program. Frank along with many other rescue and recovery workers interpreted this beam as a Cross and a sign of God's presence at Ground Zero.
This beam is 20 feet tall and weighs a couple of tons. Father Brian Jordan contacted then First Deputy Mayor Joseph Lhota (with the permission of then Mayor Guliani)to arrange to have the beam erected on a concrete slab on West and Vesey Sts. The Cross-like beam was blessed by Father Jordan on Oct. 4, 2001. This Crosslike structure has provided consolation for many family members and friends of the victims of 9/11 and also to the recovery workers such as the construction workers; FDNY; PAPD; NYPD; other government agencies; volunteers and those who pay their respect at Ground Zero on a daily basis.
Due to plans to build in the present area of the Cross-like structure, an agreement was made between the Port Authority of NY/NJ, Father Jordan, Fr. Kevin Madigan, pastor of St. Peter's Church and Edward J. Malloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of NYS to temporarily transfer the Cross-like structure to the exterior of St. Peter's until the newconstruction on the WTC is completed. It is estimated that will take about 4 years. Then the cross beams will return to an external place on the WTC site. Whether the public sees this as a Last Artifact or share in the interpretation that this is a Cross, all are welcome to join in the procession which will begin at 2 p.m. and last for about an hour or so where the Cross-like structure will be rededicated by Fathers Madigan and Jordan.
For more information, please call Father Brian Jordan at 212-736-8500 or Edward J. Malloy at 212-647-0700
Bill Doyle -Father of Joseph
WTC Tower 1 101st fl. Cantor
www.JoeyDoyle.com