By Brian Dukes Fay Observer.com
John Masson, center, announces in May the events to raise funds to build ‘smart homes’ for Army Master Sgt. John Masson, left, and Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas McRae. Staff photo by Marcus Castro
A mobile museum about the history of the 9/11 terrorist attacks will make its debut next month in Fayetteville as part of events leading up to a benefit concert with actor Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band.
The expandable, 53-foot trailer will be at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum on September 11 and 12 and at Festival Park September 13.
On September 13, Sinise and his band will perform at Festival Park to raise money for “smart homes” for seriously wounded U.S. service personnel. Earlier that week, New York artist Scott LoBaido will paint a 12-foot-by-45-foot American flag at Festival Park.
The events and the 9/11 Memorial Museum are organized by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The foundation has partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation to build specialized homes for Army Master Sgt. John Masson and Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas McRae. Both are triple amputees. The foundation has been raising $500,000 for each home – one for Masson in Southern Pines and one for McRae in Pender County.
The mobile museum will contain 9/11 artifacts donated by New York City firehouses. It tells the aftermath of the attacks as well as the story of Stephen Siller. Siller, the foundation’s namesake, was a New York City firefighter who was killed on September 11, 2001. Siller also is the inspiration behind the Tunnel to Towers Run that’s held at Ground Zero in New York City and around the country.
After leaving Fayetteville, the museum will travel throughout the United States.
Its appearance in Fayetteville is the first time it will be open to the general public. School groups are invited to visit the museum.
On September 11, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 9/11 Memorial Museum will take place at 9:59 a.m. at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum – the time the first World Trade Center tower fell.
On September 9 and 10, the public is invited to watch LoBaido paint the large-scale mural in honor of Masson and McRae. LoBaido has toured the country painting huge murals of the American flag. The September 13 concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 for lawn seating or $75 for VIP seating with chairs. Buy tickets at ltdanbandtickets.com or call 800-293-5949.
