9/11 Memorial

So we're fast approaching the 11th anniversary of September 11th and it falls on a Tuesday, again. The memorial to the fallen victims opened last year on the 10th anniversary. The site is only 10 blocks from where I work and yet I continually postponed visiting the site. My mom & sister recently visited from Texas and we decided we'd go out.

The day's weather threatened rain with thick humidity and a few light sprinkles dropped on us as we entered. The entrance lies among a construction site of the new building going up around the area. It will be another several years before the area is clear of construction equipment. Much like the airport, metal detectors and watchful eyes guide you through like cattle. More foreigners than American crammed through the passageways and slowly shuffle through the covered chain link fence that lead to the memorial.

Once inside the memorial, there is a stillness that sets in. Beautifully landscaped, the area allows the space & privacy to experience whatever feelings and emotions you encounter. Each "footprint" of the two towers are lined with the names of the victims from that day. I cannot describe what I felt walking around each pool, but one thing that did stir in me was my identity as a New Yorker. I've no idea what that even means or what qualifies a statement like that, but it almost seemed like the laps around those two "footprints" allowed my love for this City deeper roots.

This tragedy happened one month after I'd visited NYC for the first time as a graduation gift with my mom. I stood at the top of one of the towers in August of 2001 and watched them fall on TV a month later. Everyone should try to get up to visit this memorial. 9/11 affected the whole country, no matter where you physically were when it happened. It's a touching reminder of our vulnerability but also our spirit of unity.