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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?”
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Beautiful building. I love how they're putting the names of the lost on the beams. Great work NYC!!!
For this nation, for which it stands!
Well, now that America's finally rehabilitating itself....I hope it learned its lesson and leaves the Middle East alone....time for alternative fuel sources....so we can leave the Middle Easterners' business alone.
I wouldn't bet on it.
JB...and it's a shame...because America will get itself into the same mess again in the future. While it may be thrilling to experience destruction, exact revenge, and triumph...I think it is much better to avoid the destruction, save lives, and be more productive in the long run. Just my opinion...I know humans (especially Americans) are glory hogs.
Even if the steel impossibly melted in the few damaged floors, that couldn't make all the vertical steel columns in all the lower floors magically shear, melt and vaporize at near free-fall speed.
No chaotic damage, fire or explosion can cause building 7 to fall perfectly level at free-fall speed.
Whatever hit the Pentagon had NO WINGS.
If you're going to tell a lie, make it a big one, said Hitler. The bigger it is the harder to believe it's a lie.
Well, you might want to make your lie bigger then.
Should have built five tall buildings next to each other, with the middle one being the tallest as though we're sticking our middle finger at the terrorists.
HELL YEAH!!! USA USA USA!!!
Those camel jockey SOB's can kiss my butt!!!
I must first commend the workers and all of New York for this crowning achievement, this tower and all its magnificence.
I would also like to say "God Bless" to those who this memorial stand for...and their families.
That being said I must say something that has disturbed me from the beginning...
when you get bucked off a horse or you fall off a bike trying to ride it ...do you get on another horse or try to ride a different bike? No! so why would you build anything less than the towers that stood there before.
To me this looks like a trophy. its not the towers, its not the same unless your gonna rebuild the twin towers. This will always be a reminder of our defeat in the eyes of our enemies. I had family inside the buildings and I am a native New Yorker. I am sad, sad for the blind ambition of those who do not see past their own nose. It is a beautiful building .......It just not the twin towers.
The twin towers stood for everything American- that two could stand as one, that the balance of our differences is what defines us- unity and grace.....this tower stands alone where many had stood it is a sad sad day for all....Shame on you (those who would choose to build this trophy of hatred.
My appologies to anyone who would find this offensive, but I am sure that if those who lost their lives were asked ...Should we build a Freedom"trophy" Tower or The original Twin Towers they would all agree to rebuild the Twin Towers!!!
I will forever view this tower as nothing more than a cheap Trophy.
I challenge anyone to comment but first ask yourself this-What does it look like in the eyes of the world?
God Bless the United States of America.
I have read several comments posted today. it is easy to name call and slander each other in these posts. the bottom line is. there is a lot of controversy over 911 facts and fiction. I believe that a person should look at the facts. the rest of the world, and the 11 explosive experts that have looked at building 7 demolition videos, all agree that the building was imploded by planted explosives. scientific facts jet fuel cannot melt steel. the top of the world trade centers should have broken off the buildings and fell beside the structure at the worst. scintific fact the buildings fell at a rate that contradicts a structure collapse and concurs with demolition. the postings here prove to me, that a large majority of americans are brainwashed into believing whatever they see on the six oclock news, they are so closed minded that they will not even explore the real facts. the disturbing part of this whole thing is that there are more people concerned with mr zimmerman in florida. than are concerned with why 911 happened, and how it happened. I have watched loose change and in plane site. both videos were created by people who had set out to debunk 911 conspirotors, only to prove that what we were told is so fishy that it stinks. I would think that all of america would be asking for the truth. I find it shocking that america is content with the explanation we recieved. It is when you watch the videos that were removed from the six oclock news, and or only shown once, that your eyes are opened to reality. Clearly america has succumed to the media and its ability to brainwash people.
Why is the blindness so complete, the attacks so extra fierce and vicious when it comes to the CLEAR EVIDENCE of a staged 9-11?
I think most people are smart enough to see the truth, but in this case the whole obvious conclusion that it was a planned false flag operation is simply too horrific to allow, much worse than the actual event. The implications ... they can't handle the implications.
Lie to me, please - it feels so much better!
Try this on for size:
I think in a few generations (maybe 2 or 3), Americans will look back at 9/11 and think...why did those people back then allow themselves to be controlled by Middle Eastern oil and get themselves involved in those folks' business. They will also see the interloping in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as stupid.
After all those with egos invested in this stuff have passed away and Americans are able to look at our Middle Eastern problems from a distance, it will seem commonsensical that America (to a great extent) brought this terrorism on itself. It is no coincidence that a man related to one of the greatest oil business families in the region was behind all the 9/11 terrorism. Today, all we can think about is the Islamic religion. However, we should understand that a businessman who had specific objectives was behind it all (an attack against our financial center....not a bus or a daycare)...he only controlled his minions through religion.
The One Trade Center building is awesome and beautiful.It looks like it can stand up against 10 planes hitting it.Although that will never happen again.And I hope they never build another balloon framed building like the first one.When the plane broke the 1st RIBS of the building,it was doomed to fall.It did not need the 2nd plane to bring it down.This was the fault of the architec who desinged the building.Granted that it would stand if nothing hit it.But with the ribs of the breast bone brocken.She had to fall.People should put the blame where it really belongs.
Sorry for the misspelling.
You have no idea what you are writing about. The core of the two towers should have remained standing , if the load bearing capacity of the outer walls failed. This didn't happen because the cores were destroyed by thermite, thermate, and military grade explosives. The 5 inch thick concrete floors were turned into dust by classified military methods; al qaeda had no ability to do what was done to WTC Towers #1 & 2. Get informed. Demand a subpoena empowered investigation of 9/11 which is tasked to fully answer all questions asked.
It did not cost one trillion dollars to build the first two towers but thats how much '"Junior" spent on a war with Iraq, and over what? The first two world trade towers were not even needed. There was no shortage of office space in new York City. The new tower isn't needed either. The first two towers were the product of the Pharaoh Nelson Rockefella and his brother David Rockefella. They conned the Port Authority into funding the huge unneeded edifices which really made the tax payers pay for the two buildings. How many world trade center buildings could the US have built for all the billions of dollars spent on invading iraq and Afghanistan? The repetitive quote from junior was always "they hate our freedom". His other quote was "Islam is a religon of peace". The reality is that the government "hates" our freedom and is hellbent on taking away as many of of freedoms as they possibly can. A religion that was spread by giving you a choice to "convert" or die" is not a religion of peace.
People will complain about anything.
I'm sorry that people don't seem to get this but the reason we were able to be attacked in the first place is because we keep rejecting God as a nation so he has been slowly removing his hand of protection (have we ever been attacked like that before? No). After allowing such a trajedy did we turn to God? Yes but for a short time and then life back like always accepting evil and not following his laws. This is following the same scripture in Issaiah that pertained to Israel where they rejected him, he lifted his hand of protection and instead of turning to him they were defiant saying they could defeat their enemies on their own and they would rebuild stronger and better. Sound familiar? Read the article above they are building a tower that is impenatrable. This is a defiance gesture and saying that we are in control, not God. We will all see.
Freedom? Liberty?
Do you really know what those words mean? I don't see freedom nor liberty in this country any more!!! Some one better break out a dictionary...
If you had liberty....you would have freedom
You must remember that these things are unknown to the newest generations.
I lived in NY for 20 years but soon after 9/11, I was in such a state of shock (I lost neighbours, friends and co workers) that I never returned to Manhattan and moved to Canada for 6 years. I now live in Chicago, IL and to see the tower "rise up again", has certainly helped me as a person, as I see "MY New York" come back from the ruins of that terrible day.
God bless the workers and God bless America
The Truth - Marwan al-Shehi and Mohammed Atta flew two different jet aircraft with innocent people into the World Trade Centers, period. A third fanatical Islamic pilot flew another jet into the Pentagon. Mohammed Atta studied architecture in Germany and even wrote a Thesis paper about how Western civilization's architecture built very tall buildings, and that these tall buildings symbolized the West's superiority over the Islamic world. Atta hated our architecture and our society and he among others like Bin laden were hell bent on returning to the scene of the crime, the World Trade Center buildings - to make a point. This lesson has not gone unnoticed by the more intelligent folks in this country - like the one's building back the new building.
The FBI were on to this Bojinka plot, but the most intelligent one of the FBI agents John O'Neil was let go right before 9/11 - who incidentally died in one of the two towers trying to stop the very plot he suspected would eventually happen. I for one am proud of what we have re-accomplished and built a new tower 1,776 feet tall to represent that we in the West can persevere, even when some fanatics in the Islamic world hate us so much. This building can not be brought down so easily since it is built unlike any other building prior to its construction, with the strongest concrete and steel reinforcements of any building ever. It will probably stand as long as the pyramids of Egypt, even after our great civilization crumbles some day.
You wanted the truth, that is the real truth be told.
Max...sounds nice. Now, you have to ask yourself, "why did them damn A-rabs hate us sooo much?" Hate often comes from a reason, and I don't think a bunch of third world folks riding camels, with limited access to US media, would magically come to the West to learn to fly planes solely because they were angry about our GREATNESS! Probably has something to do with the fact that we've been occupying their region for 100+ years...forcing Zionism on them, stealing their oil, and generally interloping in all their business. They learned to hate us...because we were omnipresent in their homeland...abusing their people and getting involved in their business.
AmericanPauper, "stealing their oil " Try "Us making them mega rich from BUYING their oil .If no one bought their oil they'd still be living in tents and riding camels .
Somedude....yeah, I should have made the correction. The US attempts to manipulate the Mid-East oil business...through threats, wars, occupations, etc. The Middle East has made a fortune off of us, but at the high expense of their autonomy. They want our business, but not our interloping in all of their affairs. It is the same as wanting the business of a southern Baptist, but in doing that you inadvertently get that Baptist involved in your marriage, familial relationships, and all aspects of your private life.
It still ain't stealing .
The Truth - Arab jihadists wanted to fly planes into buildings. This was known, and cultivated. Agents are planted in terror cells. FBI routine. Intelligence community must ask the question "what if it happens?"
Some "special interest" group asks if the public would be outraged enough to justify war. No, the loss of life would be too small from the crash and fire alone. But if the building collapsed with a high death toll, then the public will surrender anything. Can this be done? War is very profitable, and this war will never end, utopia. People in fear will give up their freedoms for security. Unlimited surveillance, eavesdropping, search & seizure, imprisonment without due process, a corporate police state.
The attack is allowed to happen. Knowing in advance when the strike is, the special interest group wires the buildings with demolition charges, evacuates all nearby jet fighters, suspends normal Air Traffic Control procedures, and allows hijacked aircraft to penetrate the nation's most secure airspace. An object strikes the Pentagon that has no wings. Building 7, not hit, collapsed level in free-fall. Silverstein the owner says on-camera "there was so much damage we decided to pull it." Demolition can't be "pulled" without days, weeks of setup.
Afterwards the forensic evidence is destroyed, the public is trained to ignore the evidence of their own eyes and ridicule any critical view, Bin Laden escapes to remain enemy at large and we go to war on false grounds in Iraq, and the propagandized people will defend the official story while we invade every inch of their lives.
Utopia
Here is some valuable information that every truther should look into. It will really open your eyes:
Notice it's called "ONE" World ? Kind of show's theintention of a One world Govt Dictatorship impending.
I think it's a glorious feat and a monument to the brave innocents who lost their lives. I would have named it the Hope building myself..
Very proud of my fellow ironworkers.
The building is near finished; the wounds associated with the attaci are obviously not healed and apparently many need someone to explain to them what and who caused the injury that is still burning in our hearts.
Don't put too much emphasis or symbolism on the buildings;
Tthe World Trade Center and the Pentagon were not what the terrorists were looking to destroy on September 11th. It was and is the liberty, freedom, prosperity, generousity, and a democratic participation in our governance that is so hated, sadly by religious fanatics - fanned by an extremist religious cowardly leadership.
Stick together America, we need each other now more than ever.
Don't disrespect the victims of September 11, by bickering with each other. Pray for them and pray for the American we have known and loved all our lives.