Sep
11

The 9/11 Memorial in photos and the thoughts I had while visiting.

It’s been 12 years to the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.A. It’s a day that for most of us that were alive and old enough to remember we will never forget. Most of us will always remember the exact moment we heard the horrible news and the feelings we had running through us as we watched the events unfold live in front of us on our television set. It’s a day I have mixed emotions about because I don’t know what to believe. Yes I’m one of those that believes their was some foul play in the events that occurred that day. It’s something I don’t like talking about much because I know it’s not a popular opinion and people look at me like I’m crazy for thinking otherwise. This post though is not about what I think about the attacks that occurred on Tuesday September 11, 2011 but about my visit to the 9/11 Memorial while I spent 10 days in New York City recently after returning home from my two year backpacking trip around the world. Before I share my thoughts here are some of my favorite photos from my time at the 9/11 Memorial in NYC.

Freedom Tower

The view of Manhattan and the Freedom Tower (One World Trade Center) in focus from Brooklyn.

9/11 Memorial

A shot of the Freedom Tower (One World Trade Center) as I turned the block to walk into the 9/11 Memorial.

9/11 Memorial

The logo of the 9/11 Memorial.

9/11 Memorial

I visited the 9/11 Memorial on a cloudy day. The colors in my photos were so vibrant or not because of the clouds covering the sun or not. This is a gloomy shot of the Freedom Tower.

9/11 Memorial

No joke this shot was taken moments after the shot above. The Freedom Tower went from gloomy grey to beautiful sky blue.

9/11 Memorial

A dozen roses left on the side of the 9/11 Memorial.

9/11 Memorial

The view from one of the corners of the reflective pools where one of the World Trade Center towers once stood.

9/11 Memorial

The Freedom Tower reflected on the glass of the 9/11 Museum.

9/11 Memorial

Names of some of the deceased during the events that took place on 9/11.

9/11 Memorial

The sun reflecting on of the buildings next to the Freedom Tower as a bird flies by.

9/11 Memorial

The view of the Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial as I walked away.

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial is something I had mixed emotions about. I kept wondering how such a tragic event has been turned into a spectacle of sorts for people people from all over the world to see. I realized though that as I travelled the world I visited countless Memorials for tragic events that have occurred all over the world. I believe it’s something in human nature that requires us to build a Memorial to better coup with our grief and also make sure it is remembered forever as time passes on.

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial was no exception to the somber feeling I had when I visited it any tragic Memorial around the world. This one though hits a little closer to home because it is a tragedy that occurred at home, but also a tragedy that occurred while I was alive and old enough to remember all the events from that day. As I entered the site I remember looking up at the beautiful new tower rising from the ashes of the foot steps where the Twin Towers once stood. It’s a beautiful tower that reflects everything in it’s surroundings no matter the time. That’s how I felt while I walked around and stood where 1000s lost their lives. I felt like I was a shinning mirror with the reflections of others sorrow showing in my expression. The images I have engraved in my  from that day just kept replaying in loop and I kept thinking what would I have done if I were caught in any of the events that occurred that day.

I spent some time at the reflective pool where the foot steps of the former World Trade Center once stood. I took my time looking through the names and reading them in my mind. I wondered who they were and what they left behind and how all the people they knew are coping with their loss. As I stood their though I also felt a million other emotions and many I can’t believe I had, but I did because of how I feel about the events. Not once though did I shed a tear like I thought I would. I just stood their with a void in my heart for everyone who lost their lives as I wondered what really happened on 9/11 and for what were the lives of all who perished that day taken from us. I spent less than 2 hours at the Memorial before having to walk out. I felt uncomfortable with how I was feeling towards it and didn’t feel like it was right to be there anymore. I am glad I visited it, because it was a place I had always wanted to visit in NYC, but I will never visit it again.

On this day though I will take a moment to remember all of those whose lives were lost on this day, but also of all the lives that were lost because of the events of this day. Yes I’m talking about all the innocent lives that have been lost in other countries too because the wars these events led us to. I’m not very religious, but on days like this we shouldn’t say God Bless America, but should say God Bless Earth and hope for a better place for all of us as we see tragic events occur day in and day out.

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Comments

  1. Despite your feelings or opinions (which you have every right to!) about that day, this is a beautifully written post that I can certainly relate too. I especially love that photo from the corner of a reflecting pool. Thank you for sharing.

  2. Beautiful images, Jaime. Know that you are not alone in your thoughts and doubts about what happened that day. May we all strive to build a better earth 🙂
    Gayla~ recently posted..Things to do in Paris – Château de Vincennes

  3. The reflective pools are so lovely. They couldn’t have created a more fitting memorial I think.
    TammyOnTheMove recently posted..Capture the colour competition 2013

  4. Thank you for sharing your awesome photos and thoughts on this event. I have similar feelings to yours…. not something I talk much about in public though! 🙂 As weird as it was to visit ( I was there last September) I couldn’t draw myself away and my friend and I spent hours there. I was living a little bit of my own tragedy the day this happened, so visiting that memorial put things in perspective for me a little.
    Lina recently posted..Traveler Timeout: Mapping Megan

    • Jaime Davila says:

      Lina, I’m glad I’m not alone on my feelings. I don’t talk about them too much because I know most people think I’m crazy, but in reality I just say think of all the events that happened that day and let me know if it just all seems to grand to pull off. Anyway I can reply a novel on that subject so wont. Sorry for your personal tragedy, but I’m sure an event like this would put so many things into perspective.

  5. Very well written post which tries to take a more impartial view of the events. Everyone has their own thoughts and ideas about what actually happened on that day 12 years ago, maybe one day we will know what exactly happened maybe we won’t but that is not the important thing to highlight when remembering the events of the day and I think you do a good job here in stepping away from your own concerns. Great pictures, very well written, informative and moving, keep up the good work!
    Partial Parallax recently posted..Itsukushima Island – Touring The Torii

    • Jaime Davila says:

      Thank you so much Partial. I hope one day we do find out what really happened, because I think we still have no clue. Thanks again for the comment and I’m happy you enjoyed the post.

  6. Stunning photographs! Beautifully written piece.

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