I visited the 9/11 memorial this summer. Finally. It took a long time for me to feel “ready” to see this place after such tragedy in my beloved city. Instead of writing about it in words, I will share photos of what I saw. It was a quiet place, with the exception of the rushing water into the North and South pools. I hope to share that atmosphere with you.
- The sign illustrates how to find victims’ names on the perimeter of the two pools. These reflect where the victims were and the relationships they shared with others who died that day.
- The Freedom Tower and other buildings rising into the Manhattan skyline.
- Names on the perimeter of one of the pools. You cannot imagine how many names there are. It feels endless. The sound of the water masks the muffled tears falling down my face and around me.
This is the 9/11 museum – it won’t be ready until 2013 or 2014…depending on the politics in New York. It is meant to represent the rebuilding. 
The water was soothing, despite the tears. 
Tony and I shed a whole lot of tears during our visit, but it is something we needed to do. Tony had witnessed the attacks from his apartment in Brooklyn. It was not easy to be here after 11 years, but we felt it was important to remember all the people lost here and abroad. May they all rest in peace. To learn more about the 9/11 memorial, visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum website here.
9/11 is definitely a mixed day for me. I call it the "reflection" day, for many reasons. I clearly remember being surrounded by many of my friends, with balloons, brownies, and presents, celebrating my 17th birthday in the hallways before 1st period, but by the end of homeroom, 9/11 had a whole new meaning to me, and the world. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel guilty for 'celebrating' on such day, but, I've learned to reflect on my life and the lives of others and to see 9/11 in a new light. This site: https://www.birthdayspirit.org/ definitely helped me, and I encourage others to read it.
I haven't been able to visit Ground Zero yet since 9/11, but I hope to some day. It's interesting to see how 9/11 has affected not only my life but others from all sorts of perspectives. I lived in Mexico City when it happened, yet, it hit home for me.
Thanks Missy for sharing this post.
I am so glad you shared this Lisa. I also think of all of the people who had birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc is overwhelming. It must be hard to feel celebratory when the world around you is in mourning. I love the site that you shared – and the idea of bringing a cake to the firehouse. This day does bring the gift of perspective – I imagine you feel that much more grateful to be here on your birthday each year. I will have a new reason to remember this date now! Happy Birthday Lisa! 🙂
I watched the towers go down, and it wasn't on TV. A very sad day for me personally and professionally. I was flying days after the airports reopened. People said the most callous things. After that trip, I returned to NY and left four days later to exhibit at the European Competitive Telecommunications Association show in Copenhagen; that was almost cancelled. From the day after 9/11 and through the conference, the first thing any of the Europeans I spoke with by phone or in person did was to offer their kindest condolences. They went through WWII, and they understood.
What is sad is how public events recognizing the day were greatly reduced this year. I managed to get my university to post my query on the daily community page, asking what did people do, if anything to recognize the day.
Many of the young people do not remember much, especially if they lived outside of the NY metro area or had never been there. They can not conceptualize the size of the WTC, or it being a city into itself. was I was in the NYS Museum area dedicated to 9/11 last year, and a man that had been there that day did not want to engage in explaining to his children about the day, or allow me to.
It took me three months to go to Ground Zero. People were acting so disrespectfully; more interested in discussing what they were going to do later, than in remembering what happened there. I finally said something to the people behind me on line, and a 1st Pct NYPD officer allowed me to go under the rope to get off-line. I went around to the back side and people were asking me to take their picture with what was left in the background, or of them on top of construction equipment. I am an avid photographer, but refused.
Going to Ground Zero is like going to The Wall in Washington, The Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, or Dachau. Respect for what happened there must be shown. I still avoid taking the PATH into the WTC.
It is indeed a day that people have a difficult time dealing with, especially when others cannot understand what it was like to be there. I found people very respectful at the 9/11 memorial, but have heard about instances where people have had to be removed. It really breaks my heart. Hopefully no place on earth will ever have to experience anything like this to understand the pain. Thanks for sharing your heartfelt comments.
Thank you for sharing this Missy. It's a powerful testament to the importance of memory, honor, and hard lessons about the human race. Thank you for taking me there through photos.
It was worth sharing Carrie … thanks for writing.