On Thursday, Sept. 11, the East Alabama Regional Training Association hosted the non-profit Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit in Opelika. As its first arrival in Alabama, the exhibit serves as a tribute to the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and will continue to be displayed until Sept. 16.
On Sept. 10, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's exhibit arrived on the campus of Southern Union State Community College with a police and fire escort. Before its official opening to the public, a private ceremony was held.
The exhibit will be open to the public from now until Sept. 16. Admission is free, and access is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The exhibit's organizer is the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit established in 2001 to honor and remember the sacrifices of first responders on 9/11. The mobile exhibit was founded about 12 years later and aims to further the Foundation's purpose as "a tribute to all who lost their lives" during the tragedy.
This week marks the exhibit's first visit to Alabama and its six day stay in Opelika. Inside the 83-foot tractor trailer transformed into a 1,100-square-foot museum, facts and objects from 9/11 lined the walls, as attendees learned more about the event.
A wide image of the front of the Tunnel to Towers: 9/11 Never Forget Mobile exhibit that has come to Opelika, Alabama from Sept. 10-16, 2025.
Retired New York City firefighters and rescue workers who responded to Ground Zero, or the World Trade Center site, conducted tours of the mobile exhibit.
Herb Penner, retired captain of Fire Engine 42 in the Bronx, was one of the representatives giving tours, who shared that most of the evidence that solved the case of 9/11 was from Flight 93, another hijacked 9/11 flight that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after the passengers fought to retake control of the aircraft.
"It's touching to share the story [of 9/11], because I never want people to forget. Because when you forget, history repeats itself," Penner said, when asked what it was like to share his personal story.
He expressed that while this day can be difficult for him to discuss sometimes, the visitors help him get through it in a way that is therapeutic.
Artifacts present in the exhibit include: World Trade Center steel, marble pieces from the lobby floor, the aluminum facades, heat damaged pennies and pieces of the Ladder 101 and 105 logos from two New York City firefighter crews who sacrificed their lives to help on 9/11.
Inside the museum, live audio recordings and videos played in the background, and facts about the World Trade Center were plastered on the walls. The Towers' construction timeline, 9/11 flight paths and information about the North and South Towers being attacked were all on display.
Billy Puckett, retired New York firefighter, assisted at Ground Zero and is the truck driver of the exhibit.
"It means the world to me for the simple fact that it's an education tour, and there are so many young people that weren't alive, and they don't know everything that transpired that day. So, having this museum, traveling around the country like we do, it gives us that opportunity to educate," Puckett said.
Puckett explained he hopes people see the emotion behind the event and realize how hurtful it is sometimes to the survivors. As a survivor himself, he said some days are easier than others, and sharing memories that come to him are what make the whole experience special to him.
"This was the single largest loss of life we've ever had in this country, but it was also the largest rescue we've had as well," Puckett said.
Working with the exhibit since his retirement 10 years ago, Puckett enjoys telling the stories of what he does, how he does it and all the people he helps. In particular, speaking to the youth is near to his heart as he gets the opportunity to teach selflessness.
"The way I look at this, every first responder takes an oath that everybody else comes first, and that's just what you do," Puckett said. "You put other people in front of yourself. You're not selfish at all. So, teaching how not to be selfish, how to help and to give, in the philosophy of getting twice as much back as you give, that's the rewarding part."
Attendants of the Tunnel to Tower: 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit hold American flags while they walk through the exhibit.
Steve Spellman, a fellow retired New York firefighter, said it was an honor to travel and speak at the exhibit because of what the Tunnel to Towers Foundation stands for. He stressed the importance of hearing the story first-hand, bringing education from New York to Alabama.
"It's a never forget kind of thing," Spellman said. "People will become complacent, and history would repeat itself. So, we can't stop it from happening again, but those that can't make it to New York City, we will bring it to them and educate them on the history."
When he shares the story of 9/11, Spellman said he receives a lot of interest from the younger audience and mentioned he believes it is not being taught in schools as much as it used to. Despite that, he shared what he believes people can do to honor the fallen and cherish their sacrifice.
"You just got to keep their memories alive. We just have to learn from it and think about all the good that came afterward," Spellman said. "All those who have sacrificed their lives and all those who joined the military to fight for what's right. We need to take care of them and take care of the families of those first responders who go out of their way to protect us."
Volunteer Sarah Bryan hopes that after visiting the exhibit, people don't forget and remember the sacrifices that were made.
"I feel that it is a wonderful cause, and I think it's important that people learn about it," Bryan said.
Visitor Qwanza Anthony shared the biggest memory of the exhibit that she will take with her.
"All of the lives sacrificed, all of the hard work that went into putting this together and how much of a tragedy it really was," Anthony said.
Ranging from New York City firefighters to Alabama residents, exhibit attendees, volunteers and workers came from many different walks of life, but all entered and left the museum with the simple and poignant conviction to never forget.
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