Posted at: 09/11/2012 10:44 PM
Updated at: 09/12/2012 10:00 AM
By: Steph Crock

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9/11 Memorial Unveiled in Clear Lake

(ABC 6 News) -- 11 years ago, our nation changed forever. Tuesday night communities continued to honor the victims of 9/11. A somber anniversary being marked across the country and right here at home.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the September 11th attacks. Thousands of others have died since defending our nation’s freedom.

Tuesday night, the Clear Lake Fire Department unveiled their memorial, a steel beam that was actually a piece of the twin towers. Many came out to see this, some with close ties to the events of 9/11. "It is important because many men and women lost their lives," said Larry Jacobson.

There, the fire department unveiled their memorial, one that took 3 years to put together. "This ceremony, the unveiling of the 9/11 memorial, kind of bridges or shortens that bridge to New York, to that day we remember 11 years ago," said Billy Krefft with the Clear Lake Fire Department.

September 11th not only effecting those in New York but our entire nation, and as a nation, we continue to grow stronger from it. "As a fire department, with the brotherhood and relationships all the way across to the east coast, we strengthened that bond through this last 3 and a half year process, as well as be a part of something bigger," said Krefft.

Something nearly 100 people were a part of Tuesday night. A night that took many people back to that day…

"Is this a movie? ..And he says no this is real life. He said, I got to go. My vacation's over," this was a conversation between Vivian Mcloughlin and her husband, a firefighter.

"They were the second fire engine to get there when the second tower hit," said Mcloughlin. He survived, but lost his battle just a year ago to lung disease caused by 3 weeks in the smoke.

Larry Jacobson was at the ceremony Tuesday night to remember a cousin. "I lost a first cousin on 9/11. He was on flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania," said Jacobson.

Many others were there just to pay their respects and to always remember. "It's not over. You should never forgot, you know, there's a lot of people who are going through what I’m going through," said Mcloughlin.

There were 1,200 pieces given out to communities across the country. The Clear Lake Fire Department says it took a lot of work to get this steel beam here. They sent 11 of their firefighters out to get it, with the promise that they would have it on display for the public.