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| Ground Zero I-Beam God Bless America |
Mapleton High School and other schools around Ohio share parts of a Ground Zero I-Beam, thanks to the effort of a country school teacher and volunteer fireman. The dedication of this piece of history took place Friday the 25th 2011 at Mapleton High School; a small country school located in rural Ashland County.
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| Ground Zero I-Beam |
The small procession ended at Mapleton High School and was lead onto the school grounds by the Mapleton High School band, with only the sound of drums with a massive American Flag waiving high above the crowd. Ominous in the air were the emotions of pride and sadness on the cold Ohio afternoon.
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| MHS Band |
The I-beam was obtained by Charlie Warthling a former Mapleton Vocational Agriculture teacher and a North Fairfield Fire Department Volunteer. He had applied with the New York/New Jersey Port Authority in 2009 for a section of the fallen towers. Several weeks ago he received word that his application was selected and there was a 28 foot steel I-beam waiting for him at JFK airport.
On March 8, 2011 Warthling, Mathew Kidney an art teacher and six volunteer firemen drove to New York to pick up the beam.
John Marks, Mapleton school district super opened up the ceremony by stating that most of the student body among the crowd; were only in kindergarten or third grade when the tragedy occurred September 11, 2001, but this does not mean it makes this occasion any less important to them.
Members of the high school student council handed out flags to the departments involved in the procession.
When Warthling stepped up to the podium to speak he stated he wanted his children and all the kids standing in the crowd to never forget what happened on that day in September. The conclusion of the ceremony ended with Warthling ringing the firehouse bell.
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| Charlie Warthling |
The I-beam will be used in a memorial to be unveiled at Mapleton High School on September 11th 2011.
