Winnebago County 9/11 memorial closer to donation goal - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Winnebago County 9/11 memorial closer to donation goal

People around the world were affected by the attack on the Twin Towers in New York City eleven years ago.

Organizers of the Winnebago County 9/11 memorial broke ground on the 9/11 First Responders Memorial, which will feature steel from Ground Zero, last year. The two pieces of steel have made the rounds around the Stateline area over the last few years, but now the focus is on getting the memorial built.

Organizers hope to raise $911,000 by 2016, the 15th anniversary of the attacks. The total is up to $150,000 now, thanks to donations from Rockford's three major hospital, fundraisers, and personal donations.

"The way that we feel about September 11th is exactly the same way all Americans feel about September 11th. And we're not going to forget, and this is our way of saying we are not going to forget," 9/11 Memorial Board President Will Pederson said. "The other aspect to this memorial is we're going to have a local area where our first responders from the local area can be memorialized."

Money left over from the project will go toward scholarships for students training to be first responders.

To make a donation, head to www.win911.org.