WTC steel to be trucked to Massapequa Park

Marc Anthony's fire-engine red pickup truck has become a notable 9/11 tourist attraction at Ground Zero -- an emblem of patriotism that displays all the names of the first responders who died at the World Trade Center.

A retired bodyguard and New Jersey volunteer firefighter, Anthony will use his "9/11 Ground Zero Truck" to haul 5,000 pounds of steel from the fallen Twin Towers to Long Island on Saturday, Armed Forces Day.

The steel will be used for a 9/11 war memorial that is being erected at John J. Burns Park in Massapequa Park. The memorial will depict a kneeling soldier at the towers -- made of the remains of WTC steel.

Phyllis Barry, spokeswoman for Oyster Bay Town, said the town has approved building the memorial at the park.

Bringing the steel to Long Island to build the memorial is "recognizing the sacrifice of our troops, which is directly connected to the attacks of 9/11," said Danny Cain, 46, of Massapequa, whose brother FDNY firefighter George Cain died at the World Trade Center. "I'm very proud of Marc's truck. It's beautiful."

Cain said at least $130,000 for the project needs to be raised, and fundraising will soon begin, with the support of other 9/11 families.

The WTC steel will be taken from Burns Park to Marjorie Post Park in East Massapequa. At Marjorie Post Park there will be marching bands, and bag pipers to welcome the WTC steel.

"It's a patriotic day that is all about the troops," Cain said, referring to Armed Forces Day.

Last year, Anthony traded in his newly purchased pickup for the fire-engine red truck and had all the FDNY firefighters and NYPD and Port Authority officers names painted on it.

Anthony's 9/11 memorial on wheels, which has a photographic image of the imploding Twin Towers on its rear door, will go cross country visiting Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Houston. He also will travel with the Blue Knights Riders, a motorcycle club of law enforcement officers and firefighters.

Wearing cowboy boots and an FDNY baseball cap on Tuesday, Anthony, 64, of Tinton Falls, professed a patriotism "from the top of my head to my feet." Anthony has invested his retirement years in promoting the 9/11 story and the rally cry to "Never Forget" to hundreds of visiting tourists who flock to lower Manhattan.

"It makes me feel good," Anthony said, standing next to his truck at Ground Zero, "because I want to make sure we don't forget about 9/11 . . ."