Medallions made with World Trade Center steel anger some

Some relatives of September 11 victims are angry about commemorative medallions made with steel from the World Trade Center.

The medallions are forged from an alloy, 25 percent of which is recycled trade center steel. They are offered on the Internet and at collectible stores for US$30.

About 60,000 tons of steel from the trade center have been cut into pieces and shipped to recyclers around the world.

"This is ghoulish," Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son, Christian, was killed, said. "This is so inappropriate. I'm disgusted."

International Agile Manufacturing, a foundry in Statesboro, Georgia, purchased the steel from a New Jersey salvage yard.

"We are not trying to offend anyone," said Alfonzo Hall, the company's president and chief executive officer.

Mr Hall said International Agile lost 40 percent of its business after the attack and hopes to avoid layoffs by selling the medallions. So far, 10,000 of the medallions, which feature a flag waving behind the twin towers, have been sold.

"Would it be better to see the steel overseas and see it in a soup can or the fender of a car?" he asked.

The company says a portion of the proceeds will be given to charities in New York City and around the country. The company also pledged to set aside 5,000 to 10,000 medallions for victims' families at no charge.

"I don't want one," said Michael Cartier, co-founder of Give Your Voice, a victims' families group.

"There is going to be a large number of people never found because their bodies were pulverized. In all probability, their bodies could be with the steel in those medallions. Where would you display that?"