There are tragic events that are seared forever in our memory: we remember where we were at, what we were doing and other details that surround the event. September 11, 2001 was one of those events. I was working in our retail feed store when a customer told us the news. The rest of the day was consumed with sitting in front of the TV, eyes glued to the screen, trying to absorb the horrific details of untold horror unfolding live in our nation.
Picture of a picture of the New York skyline before 9/11.
I remember feeling fear: fear of the unknown, fear of the unimaginable destruction and death, fear of what may happen next. I remember the eerie calm and quietness that settled over the land for several days as all planes nationwide were quickly grounded. I went outside and looked up. There was not a single white exhaust airplane streak or noise in the sky for several days. I remember the pit in my stomach as we watched humans fall to their death from the burning inferno raging in the two World Trade Center towers. I remember the dust-covered alien-looking ghost city as the collapsed towers crumbled into smothering heaps of twisted rubble. I remember watching people fleeing for their lives, running in heels and business attire. I could only imagine their fear, horror and confusion. I remember watching the towers burn, then crumble, knowing there were people trapped and unable to escape, experiencing unimaginable terror. I remember trying to imagine people attempting to flee the towers, descending more stairs than I can imagine or is physically possible. Some were even carrying other injured strangers.
I remember people helping people, saving others to only die themselves. I remember feeling great sadness and anger that humans could and would impose such evil destruction on innocence people in the name of their “god” and their hate for a nation not their own.
This past weekend we finally got to visit New York City and the 9/11 memorial. It was a very well done and touching memorial. I would highly recommend it. It brought back the memories, the feelings and most of the pictures and videos we had already seen-in real time. It was eerie to see actual pieces that survived the destruction, pictures of those killed and stand on the actual footprint of the site.
One of the reflective pools that covers the actual footprint size (1 acre) of one of the towers. It was bigger than it looks but smaller that what you would think. The names of the victims were written on the edge. White roses are placed each day on the victim’s birthday.
The front of the new Freedom Tower.
Looking straight up. It was a foggy day and hard to get good pictures. There were two planes attached to the front of the building near the top.
There were at least four walls of pictures of the almost 3,000 victims, plus those killed in the bombing of the tower in 1993.
Survivors’ Stairsteps: the actual steps that survived and that people used to flee to safety.
Another set that survived.
An elevator motor.
The base to the signal tower on top of the tower.
New York Fire Department #3 Ladder Truck.
A steel beam.
As steel beam bent into a horse shoe.
Another beam.
Another beam. That is not graffiti. It is codes left by firemen to note their location.
Our tour guide. We were standing on the footprint of the tower with one of the walls in the background.
Column pillars.
“Dedicated to those who fell and to those who carry on.”
Trinity Church is located about 2 blocks from the towers. After 9/11, it opened it’s doors to the first responders and volunteers as a place of rest and refreshment. Food was served, the pews were used for sleeping, and spiritual counseling was provided.
The towers could be seen from the back street of the church. That is the new Freedom Tower in the background. I am thinking the dark strip marks the height of which the plane penetrated. But I do not know that for sure.
Another business very close to the towers that became a hangout for the many volunteers during the cleanup was O’Hare’s Restaurant & Pub. We ate supper there. The walls and ceilings are covered with badges and shirts donated by the first responders from all over the country. Thousands and thousands of them. We found a few from Virginia by our table. The place was packed.
Another memorial that was very touching to me was the “Tear Drop Memorial”.
There is a lot of symbolism in this very thoughtful, sensitive and well designed 10–story sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli and donated by the people of Russia. Twenty-six Russians died in the trade center bombing in 1993 and 9/11. Freedom Tower can be seen through the eye of the memorial. It was given to the state of New York who refused it. Finally, New Jersey agreed to accept it. You have to know about it to find it. It is on a canal street by the Hudson River in Bayonne. There are no signs to direct you and no advertising to draw your attention to it. You think you could not possibly be going to the right place as you wind through a shipping area with containers, warehouses and sea ships. It is very disturbing to me that this lovely gift as been treated in such a disrespectful way.
The walk way around the memorial list the names of the people from New Jersey who died on 9/11 and the bombing of the tower in 1991.
Something about this does not set well with me. To me, it is embarrassing to think that New York would refuse such a gift. Putin came for the dedication of the memorial. I say to the people of Russia, thank-you for the beautiful, thoughtful and kind expression of sympathy for America and Russia’s grief. Our hearts were broken that fateful day, many tears were shed and the grief of loss is still felt by those who lost loved ones.
For more information about the controversy surrounding the sculpture click on this link.
We will remember…….
