Republican Atheists’ President visited the National September 11 Memorial in New York, New York
I visited the National 9/11 Memorial on July 21, 2018 while visiting New York, New York for the first time.
The site’s website states, “The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the 2,997 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.”
The September 11 attack resulted in the largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil, as well as the greatest loss of rescue personnel in United States history.
The memorial is located in the south end of New York. It is located in a large open space surrounded by skyscrapers, not far from the Hudson River. It has a park-like atmosphere, with trees and grass lawns placed throughout the area.
The memorial consists of two large square pits, called reflecting pools, dug into the ground that had water pouring from the edges like water falls. The squares are almost an acre in size and contain the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. There were bronze edges around the edges of the pool that were engraved with the names of the victims who perished during the 2001 and 1993 attacks. Visitors could stand along the edges and gaze into the gaping pits. The pools were placed where the World Trade Center buildings once stood.
The memorial was designed by Israeli architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker. A dedication ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the attack was held at the site on September 11, 2011. The memorial was officially opened to the public on September 12, 2011. The memorial site is operated by a non-profit institution.
On May 21, 2014, a 9/11 Memorial Museum was opened at the memorial site. The museum contains thousands of photos, artifacts and oral recordings, as well as over 500 hours of video. I did not enter the museum due to lack of time, but the public can enter after paying an admission fee.
For more information about the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, click here.
Lauren Ell is President of Republican Atheists. She is a business owner, consultant, marketer and communications strategist. Contact Lauren Ell here. Follow Republican Atheists on Facebook and Twitter.
