Construction activity at a Grand Rapids-area project briefly paused Sept. 11 as EV Construction employees, trade partners and local first responders gathered to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The tribute took place at EV Construction’s Porter Hills Village project, where participants observed 25 seconds of silence at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first plane struck the North Tower on Sept. 11, 2001.
The event brought together members of the construction team and Grand Rapids Township Fire & Rescue to honor the first responders and construction workers who responded to the attacks.
The construction site provided the setting for the anniversary observance, with a large American flag and commemorative banner displayed on a project stairwell.
The location connected the memorial to the construction industry and the emergency responders being remembered. Workers and first responders gathered during an active construction project to recognize those who entered the World Trade Center towers and other affected locations on Sept. 11, 2001.
For EV Construction, the observance also provided an opportunity to reinforce its focus on people, communities and workplace relationships.
The 25th anniversary marked a milestone at a time when many current construction workers were children on Sept. 11, while others were born after the attacks. The company said gathering employees and project partners helps preserve the memory of the event for newer generations.
The commemoration continued Sept. 12 when EV General Trades team member Aden Brink participated in the Grand Rapids 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at LMCU Ballpark.
Brink completed the event for the third consecutive year. Participants climb the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center to honor the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 10 EMS personnel who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Brink's participation carries an additional connection to emergency response. Alongside his work with EV Construction's General Trades team, he serves as a firefighter with Grand Haven Township Fire & Rescue.
The stair climb is designed to recognize the physical demands faced by first responders who climbed the World Trade Center towers during the attacks.
Construction projects are built around schedules, sequencing and daily production, but jobsite activities can also provide opportunities for teams to recognize community events and shared history.
EV Construction's two-day observance combined a brief jobsite tribute with participation in a community memorial event. The activities involved construction employees, trade partners and emergency responders while connecting the company's workforce to a broader community commemoration.
For construction organizations, such activities can provide another way to reinforce relationships among employees, trade partners and the communities where projects are underway.
Source: EV Construction.
