Airport plans sculpture marking 9/11

(WICHITA, Kan.) — TSA officials with Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport announced Friday a sculpture planned for the airport to memorialize the September 11th terrorist attacks.

The design includes an I beam from the World Trade Center buildings destroyed in the attack.

The Transportation Security Administration in Wichita requested a remnant of the towers.  A court order allowed the artifact to be transferred from the Port Authority in New York to Wichita. The plan was to have the sculpture ready for the new airport terminal, which originally was to be done by now.

The Federal Security Director for the TSA in Kansas says his staff had a vision for the sculpture. "The artifact needed to be something we could display in the airport, that would inspire folks, would be meaningful and reverent and respected when it was displayed in the airport, "Keith Osborn told reporters.

B&B Metal Arts of Hoisington came up with the design and will build the sculpture. Bruce Bitter says he is honored to have the opportunity and be associated with the project. The design includes a flag, the twin towers, and an eagle holding up the beam.  The goal is to have it finished by September,  the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.