With only three full days to explore New York City, we literally hit the ground running by starting with Ground Zero. The 10th anniversary of this tragedy will be observed in 2011, so we wanted to pay our respects once again. Considerable progress has been made to the site since our last visit in 2002, but from my limited point of view there is a long way to go to meet the memorial dedication scheduled for September 11, 1011.
We spent time across the street at St. Paul's Chapel where emotional and poignant displays reminded us of the devastation and subsequent rescue and recovery efforts. From the Chapel and graveyard we walked across the street to see the Ground Zero museum and store. A model of the planned memorial gave us a preview of what will ultimately honor those who lost their lives as a result of our nation's worst terrorist attack.
Tom, Sarah and I took time to enter a sound-proof room to make recordings of "where we were" on September 11, 2001. While I watched the events of the day on television from my home in Coeur d'Alene, Tom and Sam were driving across the state of South Dakota. They were enroute to Evanston, Illinois, where Sam was about to start college at Northwestern University. Tom recalled stopping at Mount Rushmore first thing the morning of the 11th, moments after the radio announced that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Sarah finished our recordings by sharing her reaction as a 2nd year cadet at the Air Force Academy. Her career would be markedly changed from that day forward.
What a poignant post with powerful pictures. 9/11/11 will be an important day of remembrance. I remember getting ready for school when the TV was switched on. It wasn't until I was at school and saw the first tower fall that I realized what a huge event was unfolding.
ReplyDeleteThe events of September 11th have truly affected lives around the world. It makes me proud that the United States has been able to rise against terrorism in an effort to make the world a better place. I felt humbled seeing the patriotic outpouring of support immediately following the tragedies and how it has continued - nearly 10 years later.
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