9/11 Family Members Sign WTC Beam in NYC

Port Authority employee Alicia Ferrera, left, who lost a colleague in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and Hermes Cuervo who lost friends James Cartier and Lester v. Marino, sign a steel beam near ground zero in New York, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006. The beam, which will be signed by families members of those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, in addition to the general public, will be used in the construction of the Freedom Tower at ground zero. American Brotherhood is the name of the motorcycle group formed by Cartier's brother after the attacks. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig - AP)

NEW YORK -- Sept. 11 victims' family members and others signed a 53.5-ton steel beam Sunday that is to form part of the base of the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site.

The steel beam, which is to be put in place at ground zero this week, was on display in Battery Park City a few blocks from the trade center site Sunday.

Karen Miller signed in memory of her brother, firefighter John Santore.

"I want people to remember everyone who was lost and to remember him," she said.

Others wrote personal notes to lost loved ones _ "Uncle Peter, my hero" and "Big Ed _ Always thinking of you. You would be proud of the job Mary has done with the kids. Love, Wild Bill."

Gov. George Pataki and ground zero master planner Daniel Libeskind joined the victims' relatives. Members of the public were also invited to sign it.