Hundreds gathered in downtown Waukesha for a 9/11 memorial ceremony and fundraiser for the Kewaskum Remember Project.
On display at Main and Broadway Streets was a 2,200-lb. piece of steel beam recovered from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
“We were two young women from Wisconsin, from West Bend,” said Jessica Osenbrugge before a large crowd.
Osenbrugge grew up just five miles away from Andrea Haberman. Both were 25 years old and in New York 15 years ago on that tragic September morning.
Andrea was on the 92nd floor of the north tower. And Jessica was nearby underground in the subway.
“I went out on the street level - saw the fireball in the north tower and I caught it - to see the second plane go into the World Trade Center; only I didn't know that's what hit the World Trade Center at that juncture,” said Osenbrugge.
While she had never met Andrea Haberman, she helped her family search for her – 15 years later she is helping the Kewaskum Remembers Memorial Site, dedicated to Haberman.
The 2,200-lb. piece of steel will sit in the center. People in the crowd found themselves holding back tears when they talked about 9/11. Donna Muehl says even though she did not lose a loved one on 9/11, her life completely changed.
Many say they remember it like yesterday. And for those who didn’t live through it – Jessica believes it’s important to have a place to reflect so that people never forget.
