21 years ago and 9/11 memories are still so vivid

Down but never out

Photo credit: Ralf Weiser

If you have the opportunity to travel the Big Apple anytime soon, please make a point of stopping by the 9/11 memorial park and while you are at it take time to visit the new Freedom Tower – the new World Trade Center 1. Also, check out the museum connected to the park. Our family took the first trip back to the area where the two majestic North and South Tower used to stand before 9/11. I am glad we waited to return to this site. The memories had been way to real for us to return there too soon. To this day I will never forget standing in front of the WTC for the first time in the early 90s. I had taken many a visitor including my mom up to the restaurant on the 107th floor and taken a breathtaking view from the top of the roof. Never will forget standing in the restaurant closing my eyes and feeling the tower move due to the strong wind outside. I still get goosebumps when I reflect upon the uneasy thought that scary day: “oh my goodness, this could have been us stuck up there with nowhere to go”.

Where were you when the attacks happened in 2001? We all recall this quite well I am sure. One of my responses used to be rebuilding the site right away and taller than ever before. “In your face, terrorists of the world – down but never out. I wanted for us to rebuild right there and even better and grander.

I am really glad to say that I was wrong about this. Over 3000 people lost their lives that day. There is no easy way dealing with the emotions of losing loved ones and having no closure as very few victims were ever found and identified. It is clearly a site that will provide vivid flashbacks to any of the folks who were old enough to remember this fateful day. I am glad now that some time went by before planning the rebuilding and development of the site.

The two fountains that have been built right there at the site where the Twin Towers used to stand are just magnificent. What a serene and peaceful scene, very tastefully done and topped off with all the oak trees and the museum being part of the park. I can still not stand the sight of looking at artifacts that relate to that dark day, but park and museum will allow every new generation of visitors to keep remembering the many innocent people we lost. May it also help remember the days that followed the attacks and how we Americans came together closer – united we stand!

When you look up you now have two new high risers to look at. WTC1 is a worthy successor to the buildings that used to stand there. I was totally elated about the symbolic value of both scenes: America stands for resilience, tolerance, ingenuity, rebelliousness, love, and inclusion. It is soothing to the mind to see that we have come full circle. We are dealing with the grief and we will make sure that we will never forget to honor the fallen heroes. The new site is fulfilling its purpose to help bring hope to people and to inspire people again.

NYC has really grown on me over the last twenty years. While you are immersing yourself with the pulse of the city you will get a notion of what it means to be amongst people that may go down, but are never out of the game.

Ralf

PS: A quick tip on the side for visiting NYC. If you go North bound on I95 make a point to park at the Staten Island Ferry building on Staten Island. The ride to Manhattan is free and you get to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is a treat all the way around without the usual parking hassles.