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VISITING THE
9/11
MEMORIAL
By: Jill Stolz
September is back-to-school
time. The days are still warm but
they are shorter, and there is a chill
in the air by nightfall. Weather-wise,
it has always been my favorite
month because summer still lingers
while the scent and feel of fall are
also palpable. One such a perfect
day was September 11, 2001, now
a day forever etched in our minds as
one of the most tragic events in
world history. The 9/11 Memorial at
the site of the World Trade Center in
Lower Manhattan honors the lives
lost in the 9/11 attacks and all those
who risked their lives to save others.
The 9/11 Memorial occupies
about half of the 16-acre World
Trade Center (WTC) site and there
are construction projects all around.
For safety reasons during construc-
tion, visitors must reserve timed
passes and show a valid photo ID
before entering the memorial. The
hours, through September 22, are
10
am to 8pm, with the last entry at
7
pm. The Memorial is meant to be
experienced at all times of the day.
Admission is free, with a $2 service
fee per pass. The entrance is at the
intersection of Albany and Green-
wich Streets.
The Memorial features two giant
waterfalls pouring into acre-sized
reflecting pools, set within the foot-
prints of the original Twin Towers.
The names of the nearly 3,000 vic-
tims of the September 11, 2001 and
February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks
are inscribed on bronze panels that
line the pools. All four sides of each
pool have waterfalls, creating a
place of reflection and remem-
brance. The surrounding plaza is
filled with trees, including the “Sur-
vivor Tree” which was brought back
to life after the attacks. The Memo-
rial is at the heart of the soon to be
rebuilt World Trade Center, which
will include new towers and a trans-
portation hub as well as the Memo-
rial Museum and Visitor Center.
The entrance to the 9/11 Memo-
rial Museum is a glass and steel
pavilion between the reflecting
pools. Inside the glass atrium stand
two enormous steel columns from
the north tower. Although the pavil-
ion is not yet accessible to the pub-
lic, the steel tridents are visible from
the Memorial Plaza. Remnants of
structural columns and portions of
the original foundation are integral
to the Museum’s design. The
Memorial Museum honors the vic-
tims of 9/11 and all those who
risked their lives to save others. It
examines the impact of that day on
individuals, communities, and the
world. When completed, the muse-
um will occupy 110,000 square feet
in the heart of the WTC and will tell
the story of 9/11 and its aftermath
through multimedia displays,
archives, narratives and an array of
artifacts. The lives of every victim
will be commemorated here.
The Visitor Center at the 9/11
Memorial allows visitors to share
their own 9/11 memories and learn
about the Memorial and Museum
through exhibits and artifacts. To
enhance your experience, it is rec-
ommended that you preview the
9/11
Memorial Commemorative
Guide in advance of your visit. The
Guide provides background infor-
mation about the WTC, the Sep-
tember 11 attacks and the 9/11
Memorial. You can download the
Guide from the 911memorial.org
website.
“
For me and my family, Septem-
ber 11 was a reminder that life is
fleeting, impermanent and uncer-
tain. Therefore, we must make use
of every moment and nurture it
with affection, tenderness, beauty,
creativity, and laughter.”
–
Deepak Chopra, MD
So the next time you look up at
the clear blue sky on one of those
perfect September days, vow to
take your family and go see the
9/11
Memorial. Together you can
take the time to reflect on life, loss,
and hope for the future.
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