This photo hangs in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
When I saw this photo on a visit to this very emotionally touching museum, I had an immediate flashback to the last time I saw the towers in August of 2001, when I waited to meet my husband, who worked in 7 World Trade Center, located across the street from WTC Tower 1. I sat in the WTC promenade by the fountain, and I remember watching a window-washing crew at work up high on Tower 2.
We had traveled all around Italy with our college-age children that past May, and I remember thinking how we traveled so far to see so much beauty in Italy, but then sometimes take for granted the marvels we see almost every day here at home in the USA.
This photo is of our children when they were young, standing inside the glass tunnel entrance to 7 World Trade Center from the WTC Promenade. My husband worked in that building from 1987 to 2001. WTC 7 collapsed at 5:20:52 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, after enduring fires for almost seven hours, from the time of the collapse of the north WTC tower.
We were all fortunate that day, as my husband was home preparing to leave for a business golf outing. Our daughter was home as she was attending NYU and did not live in the dorm that year, but drove to the college from our home in Brooklyn. Our son, who had graduated from college in Washington, D.C. that spring, stayed to work there at the time and lived a few blocks north of the White House. He was preparing to go to work when he heard the news that the WTC towers and the Pentagon were hit.
I have written many blog posts about 9/11, as you can see by the tab on my blog's sidebar under "Labels." Some of them show the many memorials to the memory of 9/11 that we have seen all around the country. The latest one we saw was as part of the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab we visited with friends last summer in Denver, Colorado. You can read about the purpose of this museum on their FAQ page.
They had a steel beam from the WTC on display as part of an exhibit.
When we moved from NYC to Colorado in 2013, we learned the pilot, Jason Dahl, from the third hijacked airplane on 9/11, Flight 93, had lived in our neighborhood.
This memorial was dedicated to his memory in the area where his home was located.
Our neighborhood all gathered on the 20th anniversary to remember and honor Captain Dahl, and we plan to do the same for this 25th Anniversary.
It is crazy to think it happened 25 years ago. It's one of those times where you knew exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard about what was going on! Even over here in England it felt like everyone came to a standstill to watch everything unfold on the news. So sad!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Pat, Sept 11th 2001 is a day I will never forget. Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
ReplyDeleteI remember the day vividly. Where I was here in Florida as I sat at my desk at work and watched on my computer screen. It was terrifying and overwhelming. I was working at the Broward County Jewish Federation when a co-worker had cried out as she watched the first building fall on her computer. In a flash everyone found the feed and watched in horror. Our office closed that morning and everyone went home. I called a friend and she invited me to accompany her to a restaurant and her church. A special prayer service helped a little that awful day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. Too often we forget too soon the impact of such events on our lives.
ReplyDeleteSuch a meaningful remembrance, Pat. I'm not sure if our town has a memorial anywhere but I'm going to find out. I will never forget that day. Thank you for this 25th anniversary post.
ReplyDelete...I show a show on TV that The New York City Medical Examiner's Office is still identifying remains, such dedication! Good people rally around and do good things in bad times!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that we're coming up on the 25th anniversary. I really thought that was going to be "the end." Of course much has changed since then, and then again, much has not.
ReplyDeleteYour tribute here is beautifully written.
This brings back so many strong emotions from that day and week and the weeks after. Feeling a bit tearful for all who perished. We will never forget.
ReplyDeleteYour tribute is so moving, Pat.
ReplyDelete25 years later, the pain is still real, but so is the reminder to cherish life and spread kindness.
I will never forget it, either. I lived in Greenwich Village at the time, 2 miles from the WTC and 2 blocks from St Vincent's. I will never forget the doctors and nurses lined up outside the ER on 7th Ave, with gurneys and wheelchairs and IV's, dozens of them - ready for victims that never came :(
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to believe that was already 25 years ago since I remember so many moments from that day so vividly. I don't know of any 9/11 memorials near us but, then again, we are an easy day trip to NYC.
ReplyDeleteI vividly remember this horrific day and the days and weeks that followed. I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and week. ♥
I remember how most of the world was with us. We have never been so united again...Michelle
ReplyDeleteYour life has been so wrapped up in 9/11, I can only imagine how the commemorations hit home -- both with a sense of gratitude that your husband was not there that day and that your family was safe and a deep sadness for the losses that are deeply personal -- friends, colleagues, neighbors you never knew. We all remember where we were that day, the horror we felt, the concern after for the safety of all. But so many of us are removed. You were -- well, right there. Big hugs for you and thank you for telling the story.
ReplyDeleteBless you and your family. Thank you for sharing a very personal side of this day. In honor of those lost and what changed so many lives, I am featuring your post this week. #HomeMattersParty
ReplyDeleteReading about 9/11 still brings a tear to my eye and a chill to my bones. 25 years and life has never been the same.
ReplyDeleteHard to realise that it was 25 years ago. You always write a beautiful tribute to those who lost their life and those who lost loved ones. You were lucky that your husband was at home.
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