By Emily Cummins The Warren Reporter
Hackettstown High School Bruce Simmons September 11 memorial, Tony Russack
The new September 11 memorial at Hackettstown High School that contains a piece of steel from the towers was engraved today with the name of Bruce Simmons.
Simmons, a footballer player who graduated from the school in 1978, was working for Sandler O’Neill on the 104th floor of the second tower when he died during the attack 12 years ago.
“I just felt it was necessary to build this,” said classmate Tony Russack, who played football with Simmons at the school. Simmons “was an outstanding guy who demonstrated courage on and off field.”
Friends and family have already established the Bruce Simmons Memorial Scholarship, and Hackettstown High School renamed the walkway to the football field in his memory.
Russack wanted to build a September 11 memorial at the high school to further honor his friend.
“He was a great friend,” Russack said. “I’m on a mission to continue the scholarship program in his honor, and now incorporating this small artifact into the memorial… I’m looking forward to that.”
The memorial scholarship awards $500 each year to a graduating football player at the high school.
Russack said he recently secured a piece of steel for the memorial, and that a dedication ceremony will take place during homecoming on Friday, Oct. 4.
The memorial, which Russack crafted out of granite, was engraved today.
“The high school has been very cooperative and the athletic director has been very supportive,” Russack said. “It’s a nice remembrance of a friend.”
