Local reaction to expected 9/11 pleas, new memorial in Rensselaer County

WYNANTSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The man allegedly behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks has agreed to plead guilty almost 16 years after prosecution began. Defense lawyers have requested Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his two accomplices receive life sentences in exchange for these pleas.

James Hughs has been involved in firefighting since he was 16 years old. The 18 days he spent at ground zero after the Twin Towers were struck are still fresh in his mind. "Most of the people that we knew were in the pile, in the collapse. We had to get to their emergency people to let them know that we were there and available."

Hughs says he and the other families impacted will feel some relief if they plead guilty. "3,000 people died that day. Just under 3,000 people. We've lost more than that since then with illnesses and injuries resulting from the rescue and recovery."

"I would rather have seen the death penalty myself. Again, that's my personal feeling but at least they'll never see the light of day. They'll be in prison the rest of their lives," said Hughs.

Regardless of the court's outcome, the Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety says the timing couldn't be better; a new 9/11 monument stands proud in front of the Emergency Services Training Complex. "Maccoy McMahon from Wynantskill and his boy scout troop came out here. They raised all the money and built it. They got the donations," stated Jay Wilson.

Stacked bricks symbolize the World Trade Center; a piece of metal from Tower One rests atop them. There's also a bench dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and bricks lining the sidewalk to honor the names of donors.

"We have places all over and that's the best way we can recognize and honor those we lost that day; by having a piece of steel up here and letting people come see it and sit here and think about that day and who they might've lost," described Wilson.

Dedication of the 9/11 memorial and the new classroom building for area first responders is on Saturday, August 3rd at 10 a.m. The address is 25 Macha Lane, Wynantskill, NY 12198.