Just a kindergartner back in 2001, firefighter organizes memorial for 9/11 victims

FOREST JUNCTION (WITI) -- The Forest Junction Fire Station has become a 9/11 memorial site where people can pay their respects to those who lost their lives 13 years ago.  It was organized by a man who was in kindergarten on September 11, 2001.

"I feel like sometimes people tend to forget what happened on that horrible day," Frank Beach said.

Beach was a kindergartner when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City.  A third plane hit the Pentagon while another plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

More than 2,500 people died that day. A board at the Forest Junction Fire Station's memorial lists every single name and flags will represent every victim.

Beach is a member of the Young Americans for Freedom Fox Valley Chapter and this is the second year he’s bringing the 9/11 Never Forget Project to his hometown.

“I wanted people to have a chance to come out and pay their respects and remember each victim," Beach said.

Madelon Berken says even though she’s too young to remember what happened more than a decade ago, she wanted to show support.

“There’s a lot of people who died and it’s something that we’ll be able to do so I think it’s a good thing," Madelon Berken said.
With more flags added again and again the rows start to stretch across the grass of the Forest Junction Fire Station.

“The firemen felt that we would like to get involved and other people from the community wanted to get involved in the project and thought it was very worthwhile to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," Forest Junction Fire Chief Carl Weber said.

Those lives lost are now represented with the colors of our nation's flag…red white and blue.

The display is a reminder that even in the smallest communities, the victims of September 11th will never be forgotten.