As the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks nears, two local firefighters will start an epic cross country trip Aug. 10 to retrieve one of the steel beams from the World Trade Center and bring it to a new home in Federal Way.

According to South King Fire and Rescue, the beam will call Station 64 (at South 320th Street and Military Road) home after its journey from New York. A memorial will be built around the artifact, with that memorial slated to be completed Sept. 11, 2012.

“Bringing a piece of the World Trade Center here will not only honor those who lost their lives, but it will help us to always remember and never forget the sacrifices,” South King Fire and Rescue firefighter Sven Schievink said in a news release.

Schievink and SKFR lieutenant Scott Mahlen will leave at 5:30 a.m. Aug. 10 from Station 62 in Mahlen’s truck. They’re taking a trailer from one of their fellow firefighters to haul the beam. Both men are taking personal time to make the trip, and according to SKFR, gas and other expenses will be paid through donations. As they make their trip east and then back, the two men will stay with firefighters along the way.

The two men will tour the three sites attacked on 9/11: the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. Outside of those sites, Schievink and Mahlen will also visit Chicago, Mount Rushmore and Sun Valley, Idaho.

A procession and ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 30, beginning at the Auburn Supermall. It will travel up Peasley Canyon Road and along South 320th Street to Celebration Park and City Hall, ending at station 62 at 2 p.m.

Follow Schievink and Mahlen’s journey on SKFR’s Facebook page or at www.southkingfire.org.