wilkoi
Member
Visiting the 911 Memorial
September 28, 2:15 AM the chirping of the alarm clock causes my eyes to open to a body not quite ready to rise. My wife Lisa was already up. After several cups of wake up coffee and sufficient time for my awareness to join me we dressed for a long motorcycle ride and went to the garage where Wanda, our Goldwing motorcycle lives. While warming up the bike I did a walk around, checking to ensure all lights were running including directional lights and brake lights. At 3:45 AM we were off to meet another rider, then to proceed to Denny’s in Lawrence for breakfast and meet up with two more riders for a total of four motorcycles. With breakfast done we headed out for New York City.
It was around 57 degrees when we left Rockport but soon after leaving breakfast the temperature display on my dash read 43 degrees as we cruised down the Mass Turnpike. Refreshing some would call it, cold in the face and body is another term that really describes that part of the ride. As the sun rose and the air gradually warmed the ride became more enjoyable. A couple stops for gas and a leg stretch are required and soon we were approaching our destination.
Now the task at hand is to find secure parking near the memorial at a price that does not rival a vehicle payment. Thanks to our lead rider, some time on the internet, and a printer we had coupons for enclosed parking for twenty dollars. With the bikes secure we headed for the intersection of West and Liberty Street, one block away and the entrance to the 911 Memorial.
Do not let the huge crowd of people waiting for entrance discourage you, the line moves very quickly for those who have purchased passes on line, as we did, and soon we were at the security check point. The usual routine removing all metal from pockets, hats and coats, belts and walking through a magnetometer airport style. This one part of the visit reinforces that the tragedy that occurred here has forever changed the way Americans live.
We then entered the grounds, a total of eight acres with two pools each one acre square. The pools have seventy six bronze plates as borders with the names of 2,983 victims including New York, Arlington Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Included also are the names of six victims of the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. The design was chosen from 5201 submitted from 63 country’s. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker are the designers and it is called Reflecting Absence. Among the names are eleven women carrying their unborn.
I was looking for one name of a man I had known. As I walked it struck me that each name was as important as the rest. Each with mothers and fathers, husband or wife, family or friend, relatives and bonds that were shattered that day by an act of senseless terror. And so I walked scanning names each having equal place of importance, as it should be.
I asked my wife if she would like to have me take her picture in front of one of the ponds, she declined. It does not seem appropriate to say “ here I am in front of the plates listing thousands killed” she replied. Many were doing just that, big smiles arm and arm. She is of course correct to my way of thinking. So if you go to the 911 Memorial, remember this is sacred ground, it is a place of great importance, all who died here deserve respect and reverence.
September 28, 2:15 AM the chirping of the alarm clock causes my eyes to open to a body not quite ready to rise. My wife Lisa was already up. After several cups of wake up coffee and sufficient time for my awareness to join me we dressed for a long motorcycle ride and went to the garage where Wanda, our Goldwing motorcycle lives. While warming up the bike I did a walk around, checking to ensure all lights were running including directional lights and brake lights. At 3:45 AM we were off to meet another rider, then to proceed to Denny’s in Lawrence for breakfast and meet up with two more riders for a total of four motorcycles. With breakfast done we headed out for New York City.
It was around 57 degrees when we left Rockport but soon after leaving breakfast the temperature display on my dash read 43 degrees as we cruised down the Mass Turnpike. Refreshing some would call it, cold in the face and body is another term that really describes that part of the ride. As the sun rose and the air gradually warmed the ride became more enjoyable. A couple stops for gas and a leg stretch are required and soon we were approaching our destination.
Now the task at hand is to find secure parking near the memorial at a price that does not rival a vehicle payment. Thanks to our lead rider, some time on the internet, and a printer we had coupons for enclosed parking for twenty dollars. With the bikes secure we headed for the intersection of West and Liberty Street, one block away and the entrance to the 911 Memorial.
Do not let the huge crowd of people waiting for entrance discourage you, the line moves very quickly for those who have purchased passes on line, as we did, and soon we were at the security check point. The usual routine removing all metal from pockets, hats and coats, belts and walking through a magnetometer airport style. This one part of the visit reinforces that the tragedy that occurred here has forever changed the way Americans live.
We then entered the grounds, a total of eight acres with two pools each one acre square. The pools have seventy six bronze plates as borders with the names of 2,983 victims including New York, Arlington Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Included also are the names of six victims of the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. The design was chosen from 5201 submitted from 63 country’s. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker are the designers and it is called Reflecting Absence. Among the names are eleven women carrying their unborn.
I was looking for one name of a man I had known. As I walked it struck me that each name was as important as the rest. Each with mothers and fathers, husband or wife, family or friend, relatives and bonds that were shattered that day by an act of senseless terror. And so I walked scanning names each having equal place of importance, as it should be.
I asked my wife if she would like to have me take her picture in front of one of the ponds, she declined. It does not seem appropriate to say “ here I am in front of the plates listing thousands killed” she replied. Many were doing just that, big smiles arm and arm. She is of course correct to my way of thinking. So if you go to the 911 Memorial, remember this is sacred ground, it is a place of great importance, all who died here deserve respect and reverence.
