“We Will Never Forget” – Mercer Transportation’s Most Meaningful Move

For Mercer Transportation, the connection to September 11th isn’t a date marked solely on a calendar—it’s something they carry, physically and emotionally, through the heart of their work and the stories of those who represent us. 

Their relationship with this day began long before they had a piece of the World Trade Center standing on their campus. In 2009, Mercer was asked to help move steel beams—remnants of the Twin Towers—from their temporary home in Maryland to JFK Airport in New York. These beams, having undergone structural testing for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, were bound for museums and memorials around the world.

It was a mission unlike any other. Twenty-five Mercer trucks joined the convoy. Not employees—these were independent contractors who volunteered their time, equipment, and revenue to answer what they felt was a patriotic call. As General Manager Dale Corum recounted in a memorial address, “They felt like it was a duty. They felt like it was something they had to do… the move of a lifetime.”

The journey was both logistically challenging and emotionally overwhelming. Roads were closed. Police, military, and local escorts ensured the convoy moved safely through major highways and city streets. But what the drivers didn’t expect were the crowds. Americans lined the interstates and overpasses—waving flags, saluting, placing hands over hearts. Businesses shut down just so employees could stand along the route in silence.

“Some of the drivers commented that they felt moved by that,” Corum recalled. “Some of them said they thought they were going to have to stop their trucks to wipe the tears from their eyes.”

When the mission concluded, the team at Mercer—driven by the vision and persistence of Libby Netherton—submitted a formal request to keep a piece of the steel themselves. They understood the weight of what they were asking. This honor had been almost exclusively reserved for nonprofits and municipalities. But in February 2011, after years of effort, Mercer became the first for-profit company awarded a piece of the World Trade Center steel.

That beam now rests at the center of the Bill Howard Memorial Park in downtown Louisville on Mercer’s campus. It’s open to the public. It’s Mercer’s way of making sure this isn’t just a corporate monument, but a space for reflection and remembrance for anyone who needs it.

“We were being given the honor to keep the steel, to be the keeper, the custodian,” Corum said. “A good steward to each American.”

But the story didn’t end there. Mercer’s steel beam has traveled often—most recently to the Louisville Fire Department Headquarters, where it stood as the centerpiece of the city’s September 11th Tribute. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg attended, marking the occasion with solemn reverence. After the ceremony, the beam was returned to its home on Mercer’s campus. It’s a reminder that Mercer’s role is not ownership, but stewardship.

Every year, Mercer hosts a dedicated First Responders Appreciation Lunch, where local departments join drivers and staff for a shared meal and a shared sense of gratitude.

“We, at Mercer, have always stood shoulder to shoulder with first responders.”  Roderick Young Jr., marketing & media specialist, says about the culture of support at Mercer.  “It’s more than just sentiment. Many of our team members—retired officers, volunteers, and veterans—bring personal connections to that world. Their presence reminds us that service isn’t abstract here. It lives in the people we work beside.”

And still, Mercer has never lost sight of the cost. They’ve dedicated their work to those who lived through the horror of that day, for the families who lost someone, and for the brave individuals who stepped into chaos to help. As Corum noted during his speech, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friend… I don’t take that for granted. I never have, and I never will.”

At Mercer, they don’t see the steel beam as a trophy—it’s a responsibility. They move it not because it’s easy, but because it matters. It represents sacrifice, unity, and resilience—values they hope to reflect in how they do business, how they serve their communities, and how they honor the past.