Ceremony to remember, celebrate ‘collective strength of the American
People’
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 11, 2017) – Today the Indianapolis Airport
Authority hosted a ceremony at the Indianapolis International Airport
(IND) to commemorate the sixteenth anniversary of the infamous tragedy
that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
The ceremony, which included IAA first responders, honored the lives of
more than 3,000 people who perished in the terrorist attacks that struck
the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and
United Flight 93 over Pennsylvania.
“This day will live forever in the memories of millions of Americans
like myself, who were stunned at the site of this tremendous tragedy,”
said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “Today’s ceremony
honors those who lives were cut short, and the many brave souls who gave
their own lives to save others. And it reminds us that we must always
strive to stand together as one human nation committed to peace.”
A piece of the World Trade Center steel recovered from Ground Zero,
measuring approximately 12” x 12” x 6” and weighing about 40
pounds, was placed on display in Civic Plaza for the day. In 2011, the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey presented the recovered steel
to local Indianapolis public-safety responders and IAA employees who
assisted at the attack site in 2001. The artifact remains on display
permanently at the Indy airport’s fire station 1 throughout the year.
Mike Medvescek, senior director of operations and public safety for the
IAA, said Americans’ response to the attack was indicative of what
Americans are made of. “Just as we’ve seen with Hurricane Harvey in
Texas and Louisiana, and now with Irma in Florida, these incidents
expose the American spirit – which is neighbor helping neighbor,
communities helping communities, and brave men and women in public
service ready to lay down their lives for others. Today’s ceremony
celebrates those lost, but it also celebrates the enduring and
collective strength of the American people.”
ABOUT THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AUTHORITY
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest
airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport,
its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark,
Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport and Metropolitan
Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as
a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in
2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Airports Council
International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. It has also
been inducted into the ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence, one
of the few U.S. airports to be included in this elite group of worldwide
airports. Condé Nast Traveler readers named IND the best airport in
America in 2014, 2015 and 2016. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to
win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus. LEED is a green-
building award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. IND
has won additional recognition for excellent customer service,
concessions programs, and art and architecture.
IND generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than
$5.4 billion without relying on state or local taxes to fund its
operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves
more than 8.5 million business and leisure travelers each year and
averages 143 daily flights, seasonally and year-round, to 48 nonstop
destinations. Home of the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation
and the nation’s eighth- largest cargo facility, IND is committed to
becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo
service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at
Indianapolis International Airport [2] and Twitter page at @INDairport
[3].
