In January, Carol Kern, director of the Western Pocono Community Library, began thinking of ways to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks in New York, Shanksville and the Pentagon.

That’s when she decided to contact the Port Authority of New York and request a piece of history.On Sunday the library unveiled a piece of twisted, melted metal that was once part of the twin towers in Lower Manhattan. The artifact, weighing 1.84 pounds, will be housed in the Heritage Center of the Library along with the original painting titled "She Shed Tears," donated to the library by artist Anibal Collazo in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11.Kern welcomed about 125 guests to the ceremony. Those present included members of the Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA, the 9/11 Tribute Trike, West End Community Ambulance, West End Fire Company Unit 34, Blue Ridge Hook and Ladder Unit 23, Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network, Zion United Lutheran Church and the Miller-Keystone Blood Center.Collazo was on hand again this year with a number of his 9/11-inspired paintings, including the "Parade of Heroes" which was used as the cover art of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral program on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.Collazo is retired from Engine Company 35 in East Harlem, New York, and is a resident of the West End.The ceremony began with Dirk Carmichael playing a solemn tribute on the bagpipes. Members of the Zion United Lutheran Church choir and the library’s Storybook Theatre sang "America the Beautiful and "Amazing Grace."Emily Gethen contributed to the ceremony with a solo rendition of "God Bless America.""At the time of the 9/11 occurrence each of us stopped short in our tracks as we heard the horrific news over the airways, and I am sure you can each recall where you were and what you were doing at that moment of disbelief that this was really happening in America," Kern said."Now 15 years after the attacks we acknowledge the resiliency of our nation and its people.""For Monroe County we know that five commuters who stepped on the bus that morning for work did not return on that evening bus ride."The ceremony included an invocation by the Rev. E. Ann Melot of Zion United Lutheran Church.Members of the Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA stood below an American flag draped between two hook and ladder trucks."It is a complete honor to be here," said the group’s ride captain, Glen Potter. "My best friend is a 9/11 first responder and it is an honor for me to be here for him. It is like Pearl Harbor. America will never forget. We won’t let it.""This is just a small way to say ‘thank you,’ " said Mike Burritt, Lehigh Valley coordinator for Warrior Watch. "There were 343 firefighters who lost their lives 15 years ago. We stand with them."The Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA keep busy with welcome home and send-offs, funerals and nursing home visits for veterans.Kern was pleased with the ceremony."It could not have been better," she said. "We really wanted our community to be a part of this, and it all went so well."Video: https://www.facebook.com/tnlehighton/videos/1093374797365984/