One of the things I was most looking forward to about visiting New York City was going to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. September 11, 2001 was a defining moment in my life. Much like, I imagine, my parents must have felt when President Kennedy was assassinated. … I was 25 years old at the time and I’m still deeply affected by the events of that day and the aftermath. The sense of helplessness I felt then has never really left me. I think that’s why going to the memorial, actually being in that space, was so important to me.
The minute we crossed the street and the memorial was in view, I felt the heaviness, the holiness, surround me. The loud and busyness of Manhattan suddenly stops. It becomes eerily quiet, as the streets directly in front of the museum and memorial do not allow vehicles. I stood before the memorial and saw what I’d only seen in photos and on screens … and as I saw the names, the tears tumbled out of my eyes. We took our time walking around all four sides of the memorial and reading the names. And before we left, I stood silently for a few minutes just starring at the space in front of me, and looked up at the absent space above me, and I sobbed.
I felt it all … knowing I was standing exactly where the Twin Towers fell to the ground. The fear and confusion, the sadness and shock. The collective loss of innocence. The place where our lives were forever changed. Where so many people stood and saw the pieces of their city crumble to the ground. Where so many lives were lost. Where the fire fighters and first responders ran into the chaos and not from it. … It was overwhelming and incredibly powerful, in all the ways it should be. 🇺🇸🎗️