NEW YORK — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has announced the nationwide route for its Steel Across America tour, a coast-to-coast remembrance of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The tour will feature a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center rubble and travel through communities across the country as part of the foundation’s “Never Forget” remembrance effort, the foundation said in a press release.

“This steel beam represents the best of who we are as a country,” Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said. “As it travels from coast to coast, we hope this symbol brings communities together to remember the heroes we lost, honor the people still suffering from 9/11-related illnesses, support the families forever changed, and pay tribute to those who continue to protect and serve. Together, we must Never Forget.”

Steel Across America will launch on May 2, 2026, near Ground Zero. The tour will carry a World Trade Center steel beam more than 10,500 miles, with over 35 stops in 21 states and Washington, D.C., before returning to Ground Zero on Sept. 11 for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

At public tour stops, visitors can view the 9/11 steel beam up close, meet people with firsthand connections to the attacks and take part in educational programming through the foundation’s 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit.

At the heart of our commemoration is Steel Across America, an unprecedented nationwide tour that will transport an authentic steel beam from the World Trade Center to communities across the United States. From May through September 2026, this powerful symbol of reverence and resilience will visit landmark locations, sporting events, and town squares, creating moments of connection for those who lived through 9/11 and educational opportunities for those too young to remember. This journey represents more than remembrance—it’s a bridge between generations and a reminder that the spirit of service embodied by Stephen Siller, and so many others, continues to inspire Americans today.

Speaking of “never forget”, I’ll never forget my personal experience with it …

The world changed on 9/11/01. And it’s a day I’ll #NeverForget either. 

I was startled awake by my wife (yes, I was married once) She said to turn on the TV because a plane accidentally crashed into a building.

“What the $&#%* ?” I thought. “Planes just don’t accidentally hit buildings.” In a fog of sleep, I turn on my TV at the most inopportune moment… The 2nd plane was flown into one of the towers! I couldn’t believe what I just saw. It was a sick joke. A gut-wrenching sorrow overcame me as I fell to my knees. All I wanted at the moment was to be there, wherever it was, to help.

I got up, and decided to get ready for work. I didn’t know for sure, but that looked like New York City, and commercial planes which meant Metropolitan Travel will need my help assisting from our Seattle office in terms of getting people in and out of the area.

As I strutted back into the bedroom, my wife asked what was going on as she said the radio said this is deliberate and we’re being attacked. 

My sorrow instantly turned into anger. Now I’m pissed. In the shower, I cried. I promised myself and mom I wouldn’t cry after mom’s death years ago in 1997 but this was too much! The ride on the 311 bus was somber, and quiet. Metropolitan Travel had several TVs plugged in broadcasting the news reports. 

Shortly after my arrival to Metropolitan Travel, a corporate travel only travel agency, all planes were grounded. The direction we were given were to get rental cars, train tickets, and hotel rooms set up for our clients that were aboard. We were to work with them to get them home, while they ran passenger manifests to find out if any of our clients were on the planes; all four of them.

As I consoled my coworkers and clients, the World Trade Center towers crumbled within mere minutes of each other. To those who orchestrated this horror, it was a twisted triumph, but for the rest of us, it felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath our feet. Those towering structures, once symbols of resilience and ambition, now lay in ruins. The impact of the fully fueled jets had shattered their very cores, the flames consuming everything in their path. The images of their collapse seared into my mind, as vivid and intense as the fire that engulfed them.

Amidst the chaos and despair, a group of three firefighters emerged from the debris, defiantly raising an American flag. This moment, captured by two photographers, became an enduring symbol of hope and unity, resonating deeply within me and countless others. It echoed the iconic image of the Iwo Jima flag raising, invoking a powerful sense of patriotism and sacrifice. In that stark contrast of destruction and defiance, I realized the deeper meaning behind the act; it was more than just a display of courage—it was a promise of rebirth. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I believed that “We, the People” would not only endure but would emerge stronger, united in our resolve to rebuild and heal.

Twenty five years later, I can still recall the entire experience, from feelings to sights and sounds. I pray no one on Spaceship Earth experiences that level of terrorist attacks – ever. I hope we remember that despite the evil of the world that we remain resilient with love, and compassion.