World Trade Center artifact unveiled in Merced

Nearly 50 people packed into the Merced courthouse on Friday to witness the unveiling of an artifact from the World Trade Centers in New York City on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The artifact, a badly damaged piece of steel from one of the buildings in the World Trade Center complex, will be on permanent display on the second floor of the Merced County Superior Courthouse at 2260 N St.

Court CEO Linda Romero-Soles said bringing the piece of history to Merced was a two-year process.

Merced Fire Department engineer Rich Ramirez was part of Friday’s ceremony. Earlier this year, Ramirez and his family visited Ground Zero in New York City.

“It was very, very touching,” Ramirez said. “I took the whole family there – my wife and my kids – and just reading the names of the fire department members, seeing an Engine 55 crew, which is the crew I work on, hit very close to home. I think my kids, they understand what I do and they’re old enough to grasp that it is a dangerous line of work, and they were definitely appreciative of what fire personnel do.”

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "World Trade Center artifact unveiled in Merced."