New York City police Wednesday removed a 255-pound part of a wing of as Boeing jet, one of the two planes Al Qaeda-linked terrorists hijacked on September 11, 2001 and flew into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in the most disastrous terrorist attack in the world.
The wing was wedged behind a building at the Park Place site where a high-rise mosque and Muslim community center is to be built. The reminder of the horrendous attack was discovered only last Friday by surveyors, but officials have determined that were no human remains at the site.
It still is mystery of how the huge part could have remained undetected for more than 11 years.
The five-foot part of the wing, originally thought to have been the plane’s landing gear, was removed with a pulley system
“It’s a piece of history and we tried to preserve it as best we could,” said Deputy Chief William Aubry of the Forensic Investigation Division.
“It’s a pretty eerie feeling knowing that we’re here 11 years later removing the part,” Aubry said. “I think we all feel a sense of emotion.”
The wing was brought to a police facility was duly recorded and taken into storage.
No one has decided what to do with the remnant.
Perhaps it will be placed in a 9/11 museum.
Or maybe it will be displayed in a public square.
Then again, perhaps the Islamic Culture Center could exhibit it at the entrance to the grand mosque that is to be built.
It would serve as a reminder, however one wants to be reminded.
That could be for better.
And it could be for worse.