UPDATED. Sunday will be a historic day in Cornelius. The town of Cornelius will dedicate the “Never Forget” 9/11 Monument in front of Cornelius-Lemley Fire Station No. 1. Highway 115 will be blocked from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will include firefighters, police, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and public officials. US Sen. Thom Tillis, a former Cornelius Town Commissioner, is expected to attend.
This will be a monumental community occasion. Residents may bring lawn chairs; Hwy. 115/Main Street will be closed between Hickory Street and Washam Potts Road.
RE:site from Houston, Texas, designed the monument.
Parking will be available at Cornelius Town Hall, just to the west of N.C. 115. There will be a shuttle pick-up in front.
The detour may affect churchgoers.
To get to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, which is nearly across N.C. 115 from Fire Station No. 2 from the south: Turn left onto Washam Potts Road and turn right onto Tryon, which will take you to Hickory Street. Turn right and proceed to the stop sign. At the intersection of Hickory and South Main streets, you will be able to cross to get to Zion Street and the church. Likewise, if you travel on Washam Potts to that area, be sure to turn left on Tryon.
From the north or from Catawba Avenue, you will be able to access Zion Avenue through Antiquity or by Hickory Street where you will be directed onto Zion.
In 2015, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey donated a steel beam that was salvaged from the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
The town launched a national design competition for the 9/11 Monument, to include the steel beam as the focal point, with a budget of $100,000.
A 9/11 Committee was formed to select a design. Out of 14 entries, RE:site from Houston, Texas, was selected to create their vision for the monument.
In addition to the monument, the town has created a plaza and seating area along with interpretative panels that will educate visitors for years to come on the events of this day and their worldwide impact.
The 9/11 Committee and community volunteers have pursued and organized a variety of fundraising campaigns to cover the costs associated with this project and, to date, the town has raised $80,000.
