NBC News
NBC News
NBC News
Marvin Davis
Rock Center
The iron workers assembling the last few floors of One World Trade Center say that their work above New York City’s skyline is more than just a job.
“It’s a part of history. It’s a part of rebuilding you know, part of putting lives back together to show people that the spirit won’t be broken,” iron worker Marvin Davis told Harry Smith in an interview broadcast on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Davis is the general foreman at the World Trade Center site. He is part of the generations of Mohawk Indians who have built New York’s famous skyscrapers. Both Davis and his son are helping construct One World Trade Center, formerly called the Freedom Tower.
“It’s a fortress. It’s a better built building than I’ve been on ever,” Davis said. “With the concrete and the steel, you know, both of them together combined, you know, this thing is, I think is impenetrable.”
The original One World Trade Center was destroyed in the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. In the 10 years since 2,753 people perished in attacks on the towers, a team of more than 200 iron workers clad in fluorescent vests and hard hats have nimbly built One World Trade Center. The building now soars more than 1,244 feet. The tower is a couple of weeks away from surpassing the height of the roof of the Empire State building.
“We’re right there,” said iron worker Kevin Murphy. “In the next couple of weeks, we’re there. That’s going to be another big, you know, special day. Pretty much from here on up, everything’s special, you know?”
NBC News
Murphy is one of several iron workers who lost someone they knew on Sept. 11, 2001. The completion of the building will mark an emotional moment for Murphy, the lieutenant superintendent of steel erection at One World Trade Center.
“Just to be part of something that’s going to be the tallest building in the nation and a monument to all the people that lost their lives down here. As an iron worker, you couldn’t ask for a better place to work,” Murphy said.
John Makely/MSNBC.com
NBC News
John Makely/MSNBC.com
As the workers ascend farther into the heavens each day, placing and setting beam after beam, scrawled on some of the beams are the names of those who perished on 9/11. The building, made of steel and glass, is also full of emotion.
See more images from 1 World Trade Center
“Way more emotion than we’re used to. We’re iron workers. We don’t show our emotions well, but around here, you can’t help it, you know. You see families come. You’re looking down at the memorial. You see everybody looking at the memorial. This is definitely a very emotional place,” Murphy said.
In a matter of months, the tower is expected to “top out.” That’s what it means when the last steel beam gets put in place. After the spire is added, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the United States at a symbolic 1,776 feet.
For Murphy, the construction of the World Trade Center towers is in his blood. His father helped build the first World Trade Center towers.
NBC News
Murphy came to Ground Zero to clean up in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.
“[I] didn’t really talk about it with anybody when it first happened, because it was so intense, just to be down there and then to come home and have to answer the questions about it, but it was definitely surreal and the things we saw, nobody should really have to see,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s wife, Heather Murphy, said her husband’s chance to build One World Trade Center is helping him heal.
NBC News
Kevin Murphy
“Having been there right when it happened, I didn’t know if he would ever come out of that. He was so sad for so long, so the fact that now he’s in a place and bringing it back is so big, so huge. It’s kind of the best part about it. He gets to rebuild it. He doesn’t just have to have the memory of what it was,” said Heather Murphy through tears.
Murphy’s fellow iron worker, Eric Hunt, also helped sift through the smoldering debris 10 years ago.
“I was down here doing some burning one night and I was burning this big gusset plate open and I started on one end and worked my way to the other end and when the steel opened up, there was two ladies laying there holding hands,” said an emotional Hunt.
Hunt, a veteran iron worker who helped repair the World Trade Center after the 1993 bombing, said he’s thankful to be building One World Trade Center.
NBC News
Eric Hunt
“In the beginning, it was sad and every day, you had to overcome that, but as you get into it and you make it through your days and you spend a month, a year, whatever, it becomes a sense of necessity. You know, this had to be done,” Hunt said.
Hunt said that as they build higher and higher, the iron workers feel a “little bit of glory.”
“Every man here has put a sense of pride into this building and it’s just heavy duty, has armor. It’s modern day pyramids,” Hunt said.
John Makely/MSNBC.com
Leave a Comment:
I am so proud that my husband is working at the world trade center site. It's hard hard work, emotionally and physically. All these guys are working for a cause greater than themselves. When he goes to work, he represents our entire family and how we feel toward our country and the families who lost their loved ones. I salute my husband and all the guys at the site, they are putting back together our American PRIDE one piece of steel at a time!
Thank you for an upbeat comment.
Thank you to your husband and his co-workers! I'm sure they are proud of the work they have done as am I.
Give our nations gratitude to your husband and all the workers at the new Trade Center. It's a symbolic gesture that you can't keep America down. We will rebuild and we will be better. Good Day, Joe.
America - If you hate it here so bad, feel free to get out! I promise nobody will stop you.
I did get out. Not because I hate America; I don't. I do dislike the mentality of the average American.
I work overseas and have a house on an island in the West Indies. I hold dual citizenship and carry three passports. Two are U.S. (both legal and legitimate).
I have a lot more freedom than the average American. You know, the ones who couldn't find the West Indies on map.
Good for you, glad you are happy. Please stay there and enjoy their life style and superior minds. They certainly had no problem finding New York and leaving there, for a better life, now did they.
Why did we build this again? They are just going to take it down and kill more innocent people. Dumb move!!
"They?" Why do you think this?
HPJ201.....Why do you even wake up in the morning? You are only one day closer to death.
The weird ones and the kooks seem to have come out of the woodwork today to comment on this article.
Why is it 581 meters tall?
It isn't. At 1776 feet it's 541 metres tall.
I want to know why the site measures 6.8 hectares.
America- if you don't like it here or don't like what we stand for as a nation, please feel free to leave! Nobody will stop you I promise!
Why is it 541 meters tall?
How tall is it really?
And what is the secret meaning? Muslims, Masons or Catholics? Those sneaky people are always up to something.
Cute. What country do you live in?
540 or 539.82 to be more exact.
If we build the Muslims will come.....
The Fircking Muslims will see it as a challenge and do everything in their power to see it fall again. Don't do it! All those people want is to see Americans suffer. It says so in their instruction manual.
Ah yes, but we are ready for them this time.
i guess that all that matters is that new yorkers have this huge building to honor 3k plus lost souls. yet hundreds of thousands of combat wounded and killed veterans are reduced to poverty and second rate status. our crime was fighting to protect the american people. ask a vet. most vets who have been seen by the V.A. do not see a DR. if they are lucky they get a primary nurse. If a welfare mom got the healthcare that veterans rouitnely recieve the lawsuits would never end. 10 yrs to put up a building. definbetly had to be a union job
But the DOD needs new atomic submarines. They can't afford to look after vets.
My brother is a veteran. He gets compensated very well thank you. Is it realistic to build a tower for every lost soldier? Again, why take a moment and spoil it. I'm not a veteran and believe me they have benefits that civilians do not. And I say they deserve it too. Stop the hate......
idolmania, do you think that shadowwarrior52 is lying?
That was a very pleasant comment to make. Usually people from other countries are hateful toward Americans. Thank you! God Bless You!
they said the other building was bullet proof well we all seen that was not true and neither is this one and what took so long you talk about the unions milking a job this has got to be a world record the meadowland stadium was done in less than two years and the empire state building was done in less than a year, the last time I walked this site there were more people two to one setting and standing around then there was working you would think that they would not being screwing around and be getting this thing built to show the world that we can do it instead of taking ten years just to kept the unions happy.
The Empire State building took a year and 4 months. This building didn't start until 2008 due to fighting about the design and who was going to pay for it.
it wasn t the unions it was the old lease holder and the stupid politics surrounding the project....and the relatives of those that were killed on 9/11 that held up the intire project.for years.
Please do not mistake this message, All the patriotic posts are great, now i advise all of you young patriots in action to watch the video in plane sight. then you will truly understand the patriot act. watch the whole video, then watch loose change, these videos are not doctored, I have the original video which i recorded on that fateful day. These two videos are truly disturbing to me and everyone i know who has seen them. the truth hurts.
Way to go New York (don't say that very often) you pulled yourself up rebuilt and moved on. I know that it is all Americans that get to enjoy the symbolism of this but it was in your neighborhood where this happened.
And for all of you that seem really pissed off about this.........don't look at it as being attached to 9/11 just think of it as just another building..........and relax.
Wdasfsd your going down down down into a burning ring of fire.
Our son was one of the architechs that designed the memorial,and we are so very proud to see this project comming to conclussion.it was so emotionally draining for him and his associates...GOD BLESS AMERICA and all the peoplle who make up our wonderful country,no matter the race,religion......WE ARE AMERICANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, what a bunch of crazy @!$%#s. Thankyou to the workers at WTC 1 and please never forget the sights and sounds of that day. If you struggle with the fact other countries have taller buildings then move there, it's not about that. Even more so alot of you are getting way off subject, conspiracy or no conspiracy......It happened, it's over. Time to rebuild and move forward. Never forget.
OMG! ten freakin years and that all you get....not even the tallest in the world! So much for america being a leading country we are now the laughing stock of the world! Much of this was all the bullcrapp that led to it....couldnt agree on a design...too expensive and then donald trump got involved.....now we see the end product. And yes...the chinese have figured out how to build a skyscraper in under 6 months. Not a very good way to honor those whove died in my opinion.
It is my sincere hope that this new building will be seen as a symbol of rebirth and a call to return to normalcy that has been lacking since September 11th, 2001.
For all you folks who has nasty comments for what Rockmont said, who of you knows if this person lost loved ones on that day. Those of you who are fast to gripe about others feelings step back for a moment and take a long thought of what you say about others and how they like to express themselves.. It's a beautiful sight to see..
This is awesome. We are going to NYC at the end of summer and will get to see this. This is truly an accomplishment of great American pride.
LOL...you must be kidding! over ten years and this? not impressed. 3rd world countries have nicer and taller buildings built in less the time! Goes to show you what american greed and bueracracy can do to a country.
Who knows if this building is even gonna stand! Obamas schools don't turn out real smart builders!!!
LOL....you got a point.
Similar to a Trump building but built by Larry Stump. You know him!
Lots of trolls here. Old meaning:
troll/trōl/
Noun:
Verb:
Fish by trailing a baited line along behind a boat: "wetrolled for mackerel".
New Meaning:
n Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, oroff-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into anemotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[4] The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted".
Correct Meaning: Just an ugly person with an ugly heart.
Great post!!
When the B-25 bomber flew into the Empire State Building in 1945 why didn't it collapse?
because it wasn't filled with high octane jet fuel
trilliondollar, you closet genius you...
Jet fuel does not have an octane rating as does gasoline. And in comparison, gasoline (avgas, what B-25s ran on) is much more than volatile than jet fuel.
You can toss a lit match in a pool of jet fuel and the match will go out. Toss a lit match in a pool of gasoline and you're going to lose your eyebrows (amongst other things).
But, like so many, don't let your lack of knowledge, education and intelligence get in the way of forming an opinion.
jetjocky....You self proclaimed intellect..(NOT).......I don't believe the jet fuel ignition at the trade towers was done with a match, but don't let that stop your running of your mouth and your conspiracy theories
Good retort, trilliondollar. You got me. You are a paragon to intellect.
I stand shamed.
I did not watch the report. My main concern is whether or not they have designed and built this building different from the first one. We really would be morons if we built another building that would collapse on itself.
Well......I guess you can always pray that it won't fall down
T R U T H E R