NEW YORK.- The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began construction of the footings for the Memorial and Museum. Starting at 7 A.M., construction workers began necessary excavation work to build the foundations for the Memorial and Museum. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is managing the construction of the Memorial and Museum and the Foundation is finalizing the design, planning operations, creating the Museum, and fundraising for the project.

“This is a great step forward for the Memorial,” Memorial Foundation Acting President Joe Daniels said. “Over the coming weeks and months, visitors to the site will begin to see the foundations of the Memorial and Museum take shape. A total of 142 footings will be constructed to hold up the structures of the Memorial, the plaza, the Museum, and the Visitor Center. With the 5th anniversary of September 11th approaching, it’s time for the public to join our efforts to build a lasting Memorial by making a contribution in memory of those we lost.”

E.E. Cruz of Holmdel, N.J. was awarded a $17 million contract to build the Memorial’s foundations and footings. The work will be completed within the next year.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, E.E. Cruz and Company was working for Turner Construction in Jersey City, NJ, directly across the Hudson River from the World Trade Center. Company executives responded by readying supplies, manpower and equipment to help the cause.

Rui Andre, E.E. Cruz's Equipment Manager and Mark Carlucci, a Local 15 Mechanic and longtime employee, were among the first Company employees to arrive at Ground Zero. They both helped by forming a chain with other E.E. Cruz workmen, passing 5 gallon pails filled with debris that had been removed by hand from the massive pile of rubble.

Later that day under the direction of Bovis, with the help of the Port Authority Police, E.E. Cruz quickly mobilized a flatbed truck with oxygen, acetylene, and burning torches. Six off-road dump trucks, a 245 backhoe with a grapple attachment, and a 980 loader were removed from other jobsites to assist in the clean up effort. Two tractor trailers followed and worked to remove steel beams and other items.

The Company remained on site for several months, assisting the various Construction Managers and government agencies at Ground Zero. Joseph F. Malandro, Vice President of E.E. Cruz and Company, served on a special slurry wall committee organized by George Tamaro of Muser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in an effort to save the existing slurry wall on site.

Construction of the Memorial began in March with preliminary work to cover the original box beam columns that outline the perimeters of the Twin Towers. The Memorial is currently on schedule for completion in September 2009.

Last month, the Memorial Foundation and the Port Authority Board of Commissioners agreed to have the Port Authority assume responsibility for construction of the Memorial, the Memorial Museum, and the Visitor Orientation and Education Center. At that time, the Port Authority Board also agreed to commit up to an additional $95 million toward the Memorial and the Memorial Museum, in addition to a previous commitment of $100 million. The Memorial Foundation will continue to assume responsibility for the integrity of the project’s design and operation.

In early July, the Foundation launched a national campaign to help raise the remaining $170 million needed for construction and planning of the Memorial and Museum. The Foundation has already raised over $131 million from corporations, foundations, and individuals from all 50 states and 11 different countries.