911 Memorial

Now we test that adventuresome attitude that we have been building up for this trip. Now we have rode the train from Jamaica, New York into New York City, but it has been a few years. Our wonderful hotel with the nice and clean rooms, that takes and picks up at the airport, also drops off at the train station! It took us about 10 minutes to figure out what we needed for tickets, accidentally bought three tickets, ooops! With tickets in hand, we climb the stairs and wait in the waiting room cause it is cold outside and the wind she is a blowin!!! The nice lady said yes this was the train to NYC, so off we went! We were on the right train to Penn Station. So far so good, in 20 minutes we got off at Penn station and then with questions asked we bout tickets for the World Trade Center. Again correct train. We got off and within 1 block we were there at the 911 Memorial, 2 hours early, well it is better that 2 hours late! So like two cold tourists, we went in search of hot chocolate and found it along with the 911 Memorial Visitor Center/Museum.

This is a picture of the new buildings that have been built since 911, they are office buildings and apartment buildings. Beautiful!

Then 11:00am came and we could go in and go through security, because it is just like going through airport security! Exactly! But then we got to get our things together and we went inside the Courtyard because that is what it is. There are two pools each where the Two Towers were standing. They are simple, stark, and beautiful.

Bud captured the essence of the pools in these pictures. Every name of the people who tragically perished in the Terrorist attack is written on the sides of the Two Memorial Pools. The Memorial is surrounded by the new buildings and a new time. No longer quiet and somber around the area like before, the hustle and bustle of the city has grown back to the area. Yes, it is heavily guarded by police dressed in blues and in camo, but they cannot guard against time, time heals and I am hoping that some of the pain and anguish has been touched and healed by love of God, love of family and love of friends. So very glad we were able to see and feel this place that brought so much change into our lives, 3000 miles away from our home.

 Then we went to St Paul's Chapel, the church that was used by the Firemen and Rescue Workers and People just trying to find their loved ones! It was so beautiful! George Washington Prayed here before his inauguration and the people of the church reached out and gave healing and peace to people after 911.