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My Memories From 9/11/2002, The Memorial in New York City

Yesterday I posted My Memories From 2001 and told you it would be continued...

Here are my memories of the Memorial in 2002 at Ground Zero.

July of 2002, I called my mom and begged her to come to Upstate NY. I told her I wanted to spend my birthday at Ground Zero at the 9/11 Memorial. She could fly into Albany and we would drive down to NYC the day before and get a hotel room.

She said yes, she would come.

September 10, 2002 Mom and I arrived in NYC and met a co-worker-friend of hers at our hotel. We walked to the garment district and went shopping. This firetruck was the first sign of the events from the year before that we saw.

The morning of September 11, 2002 we awoke at 4AM to make sure we would get a good spot at Ground Zero for the Memorial. We arrived at the subway station along with Firefighters from Washington State at 430AM. Then Police Officers showed up, (I so sorry I can't remember where they were from.) I was just in awe. I guess I didn't expect Fire fighters and police officers would be there from around the country. We made small talk and took photos.

Me with the Fire Fighter from Washington State

Mom with the Police Officers.

Where we got off the subway.

When we arrived at our stop, literally thousands of people were already there at Ground Zero.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you over 100 English Bobbies were there. Police Officers and Firefighters and people like Mom and me from around the World had come to NYC to give their respects to the fallen hero's of 9/11.

We stood for 3 hours in front of the small church that didn't get damaged. The church that had stood there for over 100 years, not sure if you remember, but it was mentioned often that month after the attacks. Then a voice over the PA. The Bobbies that were lined up to go somewhere proceeded to march in a military like fashion.

A NYC Police Officer approached a LA Police Officer and asked him if he would like to join the others along the walkway down to the bottom of Ground Zero. The Officer declined because his lady was with him and she would be left alone.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke, I couldn't understand exactly what he was saying, but I knew it was him. Then small voices, voices of children began reading names. The President was scheduled to come, but was delayed.

We stayed til about 10AM, we had been moved from our spot in front of the church to another area where we could no longer hear the PA or even see the fence around Ground Zero, and we were moved for reasons unknown. We decided it was time to go home.

We actually ran into a Albany reporter on the way back to the subway and he interviewed us. We met a Lei Greeters from Hawaii, spreading the spirit of Aloha by handing out leis.

It was an experience I would not trade for anything and I'm glad I went. We left the City around 11AM or so and arrived home sometime after 2PM. The President and First Lady were just arriving at Ground Zero as we turned on the TV, and names were still being read. We watched the rest live from the comfort of my house in the country.

Below are more photos I took of the area around Ground Zero.

In the first photo you are looking directly across Ground Zero, the lights are shining down into what was known as the Pit.

I don't remember if this is the fence around the church or around Ground Zero. Flowers, cards and notes from all over the world were attached.

Posted by Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance on 09/05/2007 08:52 AM

Comments (21)

911, my memories, 2002

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21 Comments on My Memories From 9/11/2002, The Memorial in New York City

SEP

2007

Moving photos, Lysa. Makes you wish you were there...

Lysa, these photos are amazing. I've never even been to New York. You make me want to go.

Lysa, thank you for sharing your memories with us! I can't believe it's been 6 years, it seems like yesterday that we were exposed to such an enormous act of violence against the innocent people of this great country. So many heroes, yet so many lives torn apart by these acts. Loved the pics of Old Glory proudly displayed! I want to go to NYC someday!!

Jeff, Thank you. I went back in 04 and sadly not much had changed.

Sarah, I love NYC. I used to go all the time when I lived in Upstate NY. I miss it so much. You really should go some day. You would love it.

Denise, In a way it seems like yesterday, in another it seems like a lifetime ago. You should go. It's a beautiful city. I need a trip back myself.

Lysa, That was a trip I know neither of us will ever forget. Remember how quiet it was? We didn't even hear the families move up next to us. I was so shocked when I realized who all these people were standing next to us. No one made a sound while getting into place, whether it was the families, participants or viewers. The quiet was so loud it spread across the entire city. To see where the buildings stood, to look straight up trying to imagine how high they stretched, and to see how the damage spread to other buildings a block or more away from the Towers was so surreal. Thank you for allowing so many to see in photograhic form a small part of what we saw that day.

Your Very Proud Mom.

Lysa, what a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures. I went back a couple of years ago and it was incredibly emotional seeing it in person.

Hi Mom! Thanks! You remember more then me, but now that you mention it, it was so eerie quiet. I remember looking at the other buildings and seeing where they were hit by the shrapnel but the church was undamaged. I remember we went inside when it opened and all the memories inside that people sent there as well.

Hi Ana, Thank you, you're right, there is nothing like being there in person.

Lysa,

there is nothing left to say, the pictures speak for themselves.

Anna, Sometimes pictures say a thousands words, I'm so glad I found these.

As someone who was there during the tragedy and watched it unfold (I was on the 59th St. bridge returning to Queens after dropping my wife off at school, when the second airplane hit) I appreciate the memorial post you have so thoughtfully put together. I remember. as I watched the second plane hit, this can't be a coincidence. I waited patiently on Queens Blvd and 39th St. as every one walked back across the 59th St. The masses of people literally covered Queens Blvd for miles as they went home. It is a day that will stay with me for the rest of my life...

Lysa,

I won't ever forget that day! I've never been to ground zero, your photos and personal account of your visit is very touching.

Thank you

Watching these kinds of stories back then had a whole eerieness to it anyway. Let along periods of quiet. It's like everyone was working without making a whole lot of noise. Wow...and Vincent saw the second plane hit. wow.

Vincent, You will never know how much I appreciate your comment. Thank you. I remember seeing the footage of the folks walking across the bridges. Thank you again so much for coming by and sharing your thoughts with me and all the others.

Monika, Thank you. I never wanted to go to Ground Zero initially, but when I learned of the Memorial, that was the only way I could think to spend my birthday that made any sense to me. I didn't actually see Ground Zero until 2004.

Sally, The memories have a eerieness to them also. Like how my mom remembers things I don't and vice versa. And then, some are there, but they are fragmented.