On the evening of May 17th I had the honor
of touring the 9/11 Memorial Museum before it opened to the public the
following week. I wasn’t sure at first whether I wanted to attend. The wounds
of that fateful day thirteen years ago will never heal. It’s hard enough
dealing with the memories when confronted by them on television. It’s quite
another thing to stand at Ground Zero on the spot where so much of the horror
occurred and even more difficult to enter the memorial building and confront
the faces of all who were lost that day.
However, another part of me needed to be there. After
all, this is more than just a museum; it’s a memorial to both the victims of
the most horrific terrorist attack ever to occur on our homeland and to the
brave police, firefighters, and other emergency personnel who sacrificed their
lives in the line of duty that day. In the end I went out of a need to pay my
respects.
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is built on hallowed ground
within steps of the two reflecting pools that mark the footprints of the two
original World Trade Center towers. The walls that surround each reflecting
pool are inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives that day. The
impact is powerful, sobering, and gut wrenching.
From the moment I entered the building I was struck
by the solemnity and reverence of the place. Much care has been taken to
present the exhibits in a way that demonstrates you’ve entered a space that is a
memorial. The atmosphere is subdued and respectful but at the same time even
more powerful, more sobering, and more gut wrenching than the reflecting pools.
As difficult as it was to stand inches from the
portraits of those who lost their lives, and the artifacts that survived the
attack and view the various tributes created in response to that day, in the
end I was glad I had the chance to pay my respects.
7 comments:
Prayers and remembering those most affected.
I have been to ground zero, and I hope some day to go to the museum to pay my respects.
We must never forget this horrific day.
Thanks for sharing your special moment with all of us.
I haven't been there, but someday I hope to. Just hearing the taps played off and on throughout the day on NPR, brought a lump to my throat.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I want to visit the memorial. Sadly our children don't understand that fateful day. Even though it's been 13 years, it feels like yesterday and has had such an impact on us.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you all for stopping by today.
I haven't been there yet myself, as it just opened...but I think it's safe to say that one day I will...and yeah, thanks for sharing...
Alan.
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