Rusmur Floors receives 9/11 WTC steel beam
Retired New York City firefighter Pete Daniti presents John Murray of Rusmur Floors with the piece of steel from one of the original World Trade Center towers.
Presentations were also made to other Rusmur Flooring locations in the greater Pittsburgh Region. This cubic piece of steel from 9/11 is housed in Bridgeville.
A hallowed piece of steel from the original World Trade Center buildings destroyed on September 11, 2001, has been given to Rusmur Floors as thanks for the company’s labor contributions to U.S. Marine Sgt. Doug Vitale’s smart home that was built in Peters Township in 2014. Vitale lost both of his legs above the knee and suffered severe brain injuries while patrolling Afghanistan in 2011. He now lives with his wife, Alexis, in the tech-enabled assisted-living home on Longleaf Drive, which was unveiled as part of a ceremony on July 4, 2014.
On June 9, retired New York City firefighter Peter Daniti presented to John and Dave Murray of Rusmur Floors a shadowbox containing the cubic piece of steel, saying it was a small token of appreciation for the men’s company stepping up and providing volunteers to work on the house, which was built in cooperation with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Daniti said Vitale’s home is one of 28 homes already built for injured service veterans, and that 14 are currently in the works. The goal is to build 200 homes around the country.
“To keep that mission going, we’re asking customers of Rusmur to donate $10 with their purchases,” Daniti said.
Dave Murray said they’ll continue to honor veterans any way the company can.
“For us, it’s something so small, to give back to Doug and others who gave so much,” he said.
The Stephen Siller Foundation, which organizes and fundraisers for projects on behalf of veterans, was formed after the 34-year-old namesake firefighter turned around en route to play a game of golf and ran two miles back from Staten Island to the site of the twin towers, where he was killed.