Under twisted Twin Tower steel, Belleville leaders invoke legacy of 9/11 victims

The city of Belleville hosted its 14th annual 9/11 memorial service to remember those who died in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil.

Belleville observed its 13th annual Day of Remembrance for those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. Those who attended gathered near a twisted length of iron salvaged from the World Trade Center and mounted as a memorial at Belleville firehouse No. 4.

After a color guard of first responders presented the American flag, a somber ceremony proceeded, where each speaker shared their thoughts on the importance of remembering those who died.

A few new speakers and officials were in attendance, namely Jenny Gain Meyer, the new mayor of Belleville, and Curt Lougeay, the city’s new fire chief.

“This day serves as a reminder of the resilience of our great nation,” the mayor said, “inspiring us to come together and overcome adversity, and we will never forget the all those who perish on that tragic day.”

Meyer said she was working for the public works department when news of the attack broke. She said she didn’t want to believe it.

“When we first heard it we hoped it was some kind of hoax,” Meyer said. “When we found out it was true and that it happened on American soil, there just a feeling of profound disbelief and sadness.”

Lougeay said 9/11 is a reminder of the sacrifices firefighters make every time they put on the uniform.

“As firefighters, we carry that weight with us every day, not just in the memory of those we’ve lost, but the responsibility to lead with the same courage,” he said.

“Each name etched in stone of memory represents not just a tragedy, but a legacy. It’s up to all of us to carry that legacy.”

Willie Mae Ramirez, a retired paralegal and Belleville resident, was in Lower Manhattan the day the Twin Towers fell. Her office was a short distance from the World Trade Center and she recalls dust and debris being “everywhere.”

“It was horrific,” Ramirez said, “We could see the buildings go down. There was dust everywhere and we didn’t even know what was going on. I turned on my radio and that’s when we found out. We couldn’t believe it. Just horrific.”

To this day, Ramirez has a helmet found at Ground Zero that she carries around on 9/11.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM.