Idaho Falls has a new 9/11 memorial. The Idaho Falls Fire Department dedicated it in a ceremony Wednesday morning in front of Idaho Falls Fire Department Station 1. The memorial features a waterscape made from stainless steel and granite that replicates the original twin towers to a 100th scale along with memorial plaques to remember victims and first responders from that day.
The memorial was completely funded by Heroes Defense, a non-profit organization that strives to recognize and reward our nation’s heroes by providing support and resources. Their generosity made the memorial happen, where now everyone including younger generations can remember the unity and bravery displayed on September 11, 2001.
"I wanted to build a memorial to be able to teach our young ones and to bring that history and hold onto it,” said Fire Chief Duane Nelson. “They'll say never forget, but really it's more than that for me. It's more about service and patriotism and this community shows that over and over again.”
The memorial is intended to remember Sept. 11, 2001, but people can use the memorial to remember any heroes who have sacrificed something in their lives.
"I really hope that this can become a spot in the community that can be used not just on 9-11, but maybe there's something going on in your life that, you know, you just need a solace place to go and just be able to find peace,” Nelson said. “Not only for somebody that may be in the service or in public service as a first responder but maybe in the military or maybe you've lost a loved one and it becomes one of those places that you can just go and we can remember basically whatever is going on in your life and find some peace.”
The memorial was designed and built by Rock Solid Hardscapes. The CEO Nathan Durtschi is grateful for the opportunity to create the memorial.
“It's been an honor, a privilege just to be a part of it,” Durtschi said. “There's a lot of emotion that went into it, It's just great to have and be able to provide something like that for the community of Idaho Falls.”
The memorial is located at the headquarters of the Idaho Falls Fire Department at 343 E Street in Idaho Falls and will be illuminated at night.