Briar Rose 7457
Proud of my Princesses
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2002
- Messages
- 4,944
Fearing the crowds that would come the next day, I made my way to Ground Zero on September 10. I was far from alone.
Ground Zero has changed since that terrible day two years ago. I see changes each time I visit.
Most of the neighborhood around Ground Zero has come back to life, with offices and stores and all open and busy. Cortland Street was alive with action, commuters on their way home, shoppers making purchases at the famed Century 21, people grabbing a bite to eat at the pizza place..
Its only when you get to Church Street that you realize where you are. The sidewalk along Church Street, from Liberty Street to Vesey Street, is the viewing area. All along the fence, high over the heads of pedestrians, are panels (replacements for the ground-level panels that were covered in graffiti by prior visitors) that explain the site how the World Trade Center was born, and how it died, and the names of all who died that horrible day. There are flags at the center of the viewing wall, the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of New York, and both were at half mast last night. Two beams of steel in the shape of a cross are mounted on a concrete pedestal.
The buildings along Liberty Street are still shrouded in netting and scaffolding. Theres one building with a huge mural a heart-shaped American flag. Parallel to Church Street, on West Street, are the buildings of the World Financial Center. One building is decorated with an American flag 7 stories tall.
At the corner of Church and Vesey, across the street from the viewing area, is the back yard of St. Pauls Chapel. The entrance to the church is on Broadway, one block east. St. Pauls claim to fame, before 9/11, was as the place where George Washington prayed after his inauguration as President of the United States. In the aftermath of 9/11, the fences were all decorated with personal momentos flowers, posters, poems, photos. The remains of that day are gone now, though posters saluting the fire department, police department, etc. adorn the back fence. If you want a WTC souvenir, you can buy it here the street vendors are not allowed to do business at Ground Zero itself.
There were news vans from every media outlet in the tristate area, there were crowds of people along Church Street. A man played softly on his flute Ive seen him there before. Three young people read the story of victim the New York Times published short biographies of the victims 2 years ago. People cried, took photos, and stared into the pit. Ive seen the pit before, and marvel at how rapidly the area is being restored. I forget sometimes what an impact it has on those who are viewing it for the very first time.
Two weeks ago, a friend of mine went to Ground Zero for the very first time. He intended to say Kaddish for the soul of a friend whod died there, and for the souls of all whod died there. He put on his yarmulke, but broke down in tears before he could finish the prayer. And so, because he could not complete the task, I felt that I must. Yitgadal vyitkadash Great and glorified is G-ds name..
There were tears in my eyes as I concluded Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya aseh shalom, aleinu val kol yisroal, vimru amen. May the One who makes peace in the high places grant peace to all of us and to all of humanity. Amen.
Ground Zero has changed since that terrible day two years ago. I see changes each time I visit.
Most of the neighborhood around Ground Zero has come back to life, with offices and stores and all open and busy. Cortland Street was alive with action, commuters on their way home, shoppers making purchases at the famed Century 21, people grabbing a bite to eat at the pizza place..
Its only when you get to Church Street that you realize where you are. The sidewalk along Church Street, from Liberty Street to Vesey Street, is the viewing area. All along the fence, high over the heads of pedestrians, are panels (replacements for the ground-level panels that were covered in graffiti by prior visitors) that explain the site how the World Trade Center was born, and how it died, and the names of all who died that horrible day. There are flags at the center of the viewing wall, the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of New York, and both were at half mast last night. Two beams of steel in the shape of a cross are mounted on a concrete pedestal.
The buildings along Liberty Street are still shrouded in netting and scaffolding. Theres one building with a huge mural a heart-shaped American flag. Parallel to Church Street, on West Street, are the buildings of the World Financial Center. One building is decorated with an American flag 7 stories tall.
At the corner of Church and Vesey, across the street from the viewing area, is the back yard of St. Pauls Chapel. The entrance to the church is on Broadway, one block east. St. Pauls claim to fame, before 9/11, was as the place where George Washington prayed after his inauguration as President of the United States. In the aftermath of 9/11, the fences were all decorated with personal momentos flowers, posters, poems, photos. The remains of that day are gone now, though posters saluting the fire department, police department, etc. adorn the back fence. If you want a WTC souvenir, you can buy it here the street vendors are not allowed to do business at Ground Zero itself.
There were news vans from every media outlet in the tristate area, there were crowds of people along Church Street. A man played softly on his flute Ive seen him there before. Three young people read the story of victim the New York Times published short biographies of the victims 2 years ago. People cried, took photos, and stared into the pit. Ive seen the pit before, and marvel at how rapidly the area is being restored. I forget sometimes what an impact it has on those who are viewing it for the very first time.
Two weeks ago, a friend of mine went to Ground Zero for the very first time. He intended to say Kaddish for the soul of a friend whod died there, and for the souls of all whod died there. He put on his yarmulke, but broke down in tears before he could finish the prayer. And so, because he could not complete the task, I felt that I must. Yitgadal vyitkadash Great and glorified is G-ds name..
There were tears in my eyes as I concluded Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya aseh shalom, aleinu val kol yisroal, vimru amen. May the One who makes peace in the high places grant peace to all of us and to all of humanity. Amen.
