WETHERSFIELD, Conn. -- A steel beam that was once part of the World Trade Center buildings will sit outside 9-11 Memorial Sports Center, and QSR Steel has been fashioning a one-foot-tall steel stand on which the piece will sit -- free of charge.

Keane said her foundation fought hard to get the 2,800-pound steel beam that will greet people as they enter the building, which honors three Wethersfield residents killed on Sept. 11.

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"As soon as you touch it, you have a different feeling,” said Keane. “It gives you a lot of comfort. We went through an awful thing."

Longtime steel fabricator Dominick Monea made the stand. It’s something he says he was honored to do.

"This is the most significant project I've ever worked on," he said.

In addition to the piece going outside the building, Keane said there’s another beam already hung up inside.

“Until the minute it was welded on, I thought it was too much, but it's OK,” Keane said. “It will have a flag under it with the names of everyone who died on Sept. 11."

There's other more subtle references to Sept. 11 in the building as well, she said.

“These are new windows,” said Keane. “The design is evocative of the twin towers."

Keane's sister, Barbara, who has assisted in the massive effort, reflected on the completion of this seven-year journey.

"For (Judy), it's a huge milestone,” she said. “It shows you can make anything happen."