A piece of steel from the north tower of the original World Trade Center has found its way to the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. A ceremony marked the end of a long trip that involved an ever-growing caravan of motorcyclists, police cars, and general well-wishers.

The steal beam was moved for the specific purpose of honoring former infantryman Rick Rescorla, who died while attempting to lead others to safety during the September 11th attacks. Rescorla is survived by his wife and two children.

The beam has been paired with a bronze statue to mark his Army service and sacrifice.

As for the beam’s journey, a fire engine and an estimated 200 motorcyclists kept it company between a hangar at Kennedy Airport and Georgia. The size of the caravan tended to grow over time, too.

Lieutenant Paddy Concannon, the president and founder of the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation, told Lily Gordon, “We had fire trucks, we had motorcycles, we had police escorts. It was a grass roots trip that just got bigger and bigger and bigger. By the time we hit Georgia, we had 20 state police in front, we had squad cars on either side, we had people on overpasses, we had American flags off pick-up trucks. It was the most patriotic, inspirational thing that I think I’ve ever experienced.”