Ground Zero 360 Exhibit Opens In Indianapolis

A traveling exhibit stopping in Indianapolis puts a face on some of the nearly 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11.

Ground Zero 360 opened Friday at the Indiana War Memorial.

The exhibit allows people to hear first responder calls, touch pieces of the World Trade Center and see artifacts from those who died.

Family members of victims and first responders who were working that day attended the opening.

Paul McCormack is a retired NYPD Deputy Inspector and says he remembers part of that day vividly.

"When that tower fell, a female police officer came over the air with a faint call for help," he says. "Very disturbing call to hear for a police officer."

McCormack later learned that was the voice of Moira Smith, an officer who died after helping evacuate people from one of the towers.

The exhibit features a painting of Smith, her hat and her medal of honor.

There are also artifacts from Jamie O’Rourke’s father, who was a firefighter based in Brooklyn. His entire company died on Sept. 11.

She says Indiana first responders traveled to New York following the terrorist attacks to help.

"Now, getting to pay our gratitude and get to really reconnect a country that seems divided, it warms your heart," O'Rourke says.

Family members also planted a survivor tree at the Indiana War Memorial Friday. The exhibit will remain there until February 2019.