We Remember to Never Forget - Two 9-11 Memorials in Colorado --

Last summer, on a visit to Colorado before I moved here permanently, I accompanied my daughter on a business trip to Pueblo, Colorado. While she was with her clients, I wandered around the beautiful Riverwalk in the downtown area.  You can see more about the Riverwalk on this post, and about the Center for American Values, that is located there, on this post.

Right outside the Center of American Values, which honors the United States Medal of Honor recipients, was this breathtaking memorial to 9-11.

A steel beam from the actual World Trade Center ruins was balanced on top of two tower-like figures, pointed towards the direction of New York City.

A close up of the plaque that accompanies the memorial. 

My visit to Pueblo was right after the 2012, 9-11 anniversary, and I found it very touching to see how my soon to be new home state vowed: "We Remember to Never Forget'!

Even more so, I soon found there was to be another heartbreaking connection to 9-11 in my new state of Colorado.  When I visited the 9-11 Memorial in New York City, one last time before I moved, (you can see that post here) I took the time to photograph many of the names engraved around the memorial waterfalls, both people I or my husband knew that perished that fateful day, as well as others that became well known after the event.

One name I photographed was of the pilot of United Airlines Flight 93, Jason M Dahl.  Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on 9-11, 2001, because of the heroic efforts of the passengers on board who fought the terrorists, to prevent further probable death and destruction in Washington, DC.

When I moved to my new neighborhood in the Littleton, Colorado area in January of this year, I passed this memorial not far from where I live.  It was a memorial to Pilot Jason M Dahl, who lived in my community until that fateful day!

Here is another photo I took of the memorial, this summer, on July 4th.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it, and then again when it opens to see an even larger view).

The Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund was set up by his wife, Sandy Dahl, after 9-11, to help worthy students of aviation. Sadly, Sandy Dahl passed away in her sleep on May 25, 2012, but the scholarship fund continues. In New York City I was surrounded by memorials and reminders of the 9-11 tragedy, but I did not expect to find such a connection here, over 1,800 miles away!  It made me realize more than ever that we are all connected in some way to the events of 9-11, whether they took place in our city or not. It was an attack on our entire nation and our way of life. We will have to remain vigilant, no matter where we live, to prevent something like this from ever happening again!

I took the following video of one of the 9-11 Memorial Waterfalls during my visit to the Memorial.  The two waterfalls lie in the footprints of the World Trade Center Tower One and Tower Two, a solemn reminder of where so many perished that day.  Water flows from all four sides into the center abyss.



Would you like to turn September 11 into a day of positive good deeds, charitable service, and inspiration?  I could not think of a better way to remember those lost than to do something good to help another in their memory.  Go to the 9/11 Day Observance web page and look where you can volunteer in your community on, or around, the 9-11 date. 

May "We Remember to Never Forget"!

If you would like to read all of my prior 10 posts about 9-11 please click on this link

The 9/11 Memorial, New York City

I visited the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan last year, but have yet to blog about it, as I felt too emotional spent afterward to put everything I saw into words. Since the eleventh anniversary of this sad and terrible event is approaching, I felt it was time to show you what I saw.

The 9/11 Memorial is located at the World Trade Center. You can see the new One World Trade Center under construction in the photo above, Visitors can access the Memorial Plaza by presenting a visitor pass at the 9/11 Memorial entry at the northwest corner of Albany and Greenwich Streets.  The timed reservation passes have to be applied for online at this link. You will have to wait on a line and pass through many security checks before entering the Memorial site.

There were informational signs to read on the way onto the grounds.

The sign above gives a diagram of where to find the names of those who were lost on 9/11. The names of every person who died in the terrorist attacks of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001, are inscribed in bronze ledges that surround the twin Memorial pools.  The names are grouped with whom they perished in or near the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon, as well as all who perished on the four airplanes.

The Memorial Plaza occupies eight of the 16 acres at the World Trade Center.  The Memorial is described on its web site as "a tribute to the past and a place of hope for the future."

The National September 11 Memorial Museum within the Memorial Plaza will serve as the country’s principal institution for examining the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring the continuing significance of September 11, 2001.

My first look at the large memorial pools took my breath away!  They are located on the footprints of the two buildings that were destroyed that fateful day.

The appearance and sound of the waterfalls emptying into a black void was very dramatic. They are a beautiful expression of the feeling of loss that was left in the hearts of all who mourn the victims.

My husband and I walked around and said a prayer at all the names of the people we knew who were lost that day--the photo mosaic above shows many of their names They were our friends, neighbors, work associates, and former schoolmates.

I also wanted to say a prayer by the name of someone I didn't know in person, who was on Flight 77 that went into the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Her name is Suzanne M. Calley, 1957 - 2001

On two trips to California, my husband and I happened to take a rest stop in Lover Point Park in the town of Pacific Grove.  There, under this tree, is a peaceful memorial bench looking out towards the beautiful blue bay.

The bench is a memorial to Suzanne Marie Calley.  On our second visit to Pacific Grove, there was a bouquet of flowers and a note on the bench that was placed there by Suzanne's mother on what would have been her birthday.  It really touched my heart.   

Rest in peace, Suzanne. 

There were poignant remembrances left on many names around the memorial pools...

343 Firefighters were killed on 9/11

I'm sure you remember this photo of men carrying the body of Fire Chaplain Father Mychal Judge from Tower One, where he was one of the first casualties of the brave first responders.  I found this photo on this NPR web page, where you can also read a beautiful story about Father Mychal.

Rest in Peace, Father Mychal.

A bouquet of pink roses.

It was especially sad to see the names of expectant mothers and their "unborn child."

Many people were making rubbings of the names of those whom they knew.

A couple of years ago I showed you in this post, a neighborhood memorial in Brooklyn, New York, among other neighborhood 9/11 memorials.

It was dedicated to Firefighter Gregory Thomas Saucedo 1969 -2001.  He was last seen climbing the stairs of Tower One on 9/11

Rest in peace, Gregory.

Too many lost

Too many mourned

Too many lives cut short

Too many hopes and dreams never fulfilled

Too many sad memories

Too many names...

Too many names.

May they all rest in peace

May we always remember them, and
May God Bless America!

The Brooklyn Bridge Park

In the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, along the waterfront of the East River, the once busy Brooklyn waterfront consisted of six piers and defunct bulk cargo shipping and storage complexes, built by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the 1950s but rendered obsolete by the rise of container shipping in the 1980's. Left abandoned, the piers and buildings were an eyesore until neighborhood advocacy and government funding allowed the vision of turning this prime waterfront property into a park a reality for all to enjoy.
 (All photos in my blog will enlarge if clicked on once, and then again when they re-open on a new page.)

Still under construction, the new Brooklyn Bridge Park is 85 acres of green space and recreational facilities, designed by landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, and will soon span 1.3 miles of post-industrial waterfront between north of the Manhattan Bridge and Atlantic Avenue.

This sign shows the areas of the park that has been completed colored in light blue, and the areas still under construction in the dark blue.

A bicycle rentals stand in the park.

The park encourages visitors "to stroll, bike, boat, learn and play amid the stunning views of the bridge, harbor and skyline."

You can have a picnic, using the tables provided...

...or by sitting on an expanse of lawn.

You can sit and admire the Manhattan skyline and watch the boat traffic go by in the East River....

....or walk along a series of paths on the waterfront that has an ever changing view to enjoy.

You can see views of New York Harbor...

...with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

There are plenty of paths at different levels in the park...

....that are lined with trees and pocket gardens filled with native flowers and shrubs.

This collage shows some of the flowers I found along the park paths--Black eyed Susan daisies, wild pink roses, day lilies and even wild raspberries!

source

There are two innovative children's playgrounds located in the park.

This playground was smaller for young toddlers.

There are even free "Movies With A View" nights being held in the park thsi summer!

I had to include this photo of the eastern part of the park, as the building you see under construction in the background, with the cranes on top, is the new World Trade Center building. You can watch a video about the progress of the building and the 9-11 memorial waterfalls pools at this link.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is still under construction, and it is projected that approximately two-thirds of the park will be completed by 2013. It will tie in with the existing Empire--Fulton Ferry Park, which is undergoing improvements including a Jean Nouvel-designed pavilion to house a restored 1922 carousel, which you can see in the sign above.

This aerial shot from the Buildipedia web site shows an artist interpretation of how the park will look when fully completed. It will include several floating pathways, boardwalks and beaches, fishing piers, and safe water for paddling in kayaks and canoes.  There will also be 40 acres of recreational space including tennis, handball, basketball, and volleyball courts; playing fields for soccer, softball, and lacrosse; hockey and ice skating rinks; plenty of playgrounds; a bike path; and a year-round indoor recreational facility.  You can see a diagram of how the entire park will look at this link, and you can read the park's blog at this link.


Brooklyn Bridge Park _ Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates from stephen knifton on Vimeo.

You can watch the video above that shows some views of how this area looked before the park was built and also gives very interesting information about how the park was built using almost all reclaimed and recycled material.  You can also watch the video on this web link.

I hope that I've encouraged you to consider visiting the wonderful borough of  Brooklyn in New York City. There's a lot to see in Brooklyn, and now another beautiful park to enjoy!

I'm linking to "Outdoor Wednesday" event on Susan's blog "A Southern Daydreamer," and for the first time, Watery Wednesday and "Pink Saturday" at Beverly's How Sweet The Sound blog. Please visit all these wonderful blogs and join in all the fun!