A veteran photographer from the New York Post, William Lopez, experienced a heartfelt reunion on Tuesday with a piece of 9/11 history that he thought was lost forever.
Lopez received plaques containing sections of steel from the World Trade Center, a poignant reminder of that day.
About ten years ago, during a chaotic move, he misplaced one of his most cherished items—a plaque that held sentimental value. “I thought I’d never see it again, so I accepted that loss,” he shared. “But I didn’t realize how much I missed it until it was back in my hands. I was really overwhelmed with emotions.”
One of his notable photographs, now part of the Library of Congress collection, captures two FDNY firefighters embracing, realizing they had survived the tragic events of that day. The image was taken as the sun began to set on a somber September afternoon.
Lopez was on the ground that day, observing the collapse of the buildings and witnessing the desperate choices of office workers. It’s not a topic he enjoys discussing, even years later.
As a part of a tribute, he submitted his photos to a gallery initiated by retired Post photographer Bolivar Arellano, who raised funds for first responders. This exhibition showcased many harrowing images from that tragic day.
In appreciation of his contributions, Lopez received a plaque featuring his work—an acknowledgment that meant a lot to him.
Fast forward six or seven years after losing his plaque, Sheena Pizarro, a Brooklyn resident, stumbled upon it among discarded items in East Williamsburg. She felt an instinctive urge to save it. “I knew it was significant, and it didn’t belong in the trash,” she stated. However, she admitted she overlooked the label indicating it was from Arellano’s gallery when she found it.
After posting about the plaque on Reddit, one of Arellano’s sons responded, prompting Lopez to receive texts from unfamiliar numbers. Upon seeing a photo of his long-lost plaque, he realized it was genuine and not spam.
On Tuesday, Lopez’s emotional reunion with Pizarro brought him to tears. “I was just on the floor,” he expressed. “It felt surreal. To think that someone found it, that it still existed, and that I had a chance to reclaim it—it’s incredible.”
