I had seen some photos of the memorial to those who died in the attack on the twin towers in 2001 but never in person before Friday. I was unprepared for how powerful it is.
There are two deep, square pools, each tracing the exact footprint of the towers. They are made of somber black and gray stone, deeply depressed beneath the level of the plaza. The towers once rose astonishingly high. These basins find emotional depth. Water pours over all sides, reminding me of the torrents of steel, stone and glass that plummeted onto those in the buildings and the people who came to their aid. In the center of each is another square pit, completely black and having no visible bottom. They speak of the anguish and despair of the day and those that followed.
The pools are rimmed with panels of polished gray metal containing the thousands of names of those who died. The top picture shows part of the section reserved for firefighters who died in the rescue, each with the number of his truck.
There are two deep, square pools, each tracing the exact footprint of the towers. They are made of somber black and gray stone, deeply depressed beneath the level of the plaza. The towers once rose astonishingly high. These basins find emotional depth. Water pours over all sides, reminding me of the torrents of steel, stone and glass that plummeted onto those in the buildings and the people who came to their aid. In the center of each is another square pit, completely black and having no visible bottom. They speak of the anguish and despair of the day and those that followed.
The pools are rimmed with panels of polished gray metal containing the thousands of names of those who died. The top picture shows part of the section reserved for firefighters who died in the rescue, each with the number of his truck.
Very moving.
ReplyDeleteGreat memorial with deep impact. Like the wall in Washington the US know how to honor all victims and hero's with great memorials.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Bob. It is such a moving place.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fitting memorial Bob.
ReplyDeleteThe designers who came up with the concept did it just right. Very dignified.
ReplyDeleteThe memorial is indeed deeply affecting. I visited last summer, almost exactly one year ago, and was nearly stunned. The memorial and the museum are remarkable in part because they are so busy and yet there is such respectful silence from the visitors.
ReplyDeleteDignified and serene....
ReplyDeleteI hope to see this in person one day.
ReplyDeleteOne night back in 1985, my agent, her assistant and I had dinner at Windows on the World. I was doing research for Alexander's Empire, and the WTC was one of the main locations for the story. I wished aloud that I could get one of the menus. After we left, my agent surprised me with the menu. I still have it.