County will pick up costs for 9/11 rock

EAGLE COUNTY – Eagle County will reimburse a local war veteran $1,488.54 for bringing to the valley a piece of the Pentagon that was damaged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Buddy Sims, who is helping raise funds to build a memorial in Edwards, retrieved the 8-foot by 3-foot piece of granite in Washington, D.C., and then spent several days driving it back. The rock will be used in the memorial. The memorial will honor war veterans, firefighters, police, ambulance workers and other public safety workers who have died in the line of duty.

Commissioner Tom Stone suggested during Tuesday’s board meeting that the county reimburse Sims because the county will be the custodian of the Pentagon rock. Commissioner Peter Runyon agreed. Commissioner Arn Menconi was absent.The money will reimburse Sims for his travel expenses, which included renting a moving truck to bring the rock back.

Organizers for the memorial are trying to raise $2.4 million to build it. Construction won’t begin until all the money is raised, organizers said. The goal is to have the memorial finished and open to the public by fall.

Vail, Colorado