WORLD TRADE CENTER

                                                                       World Trade Center

Amid all the heavy rains, flooding and storms yesterday, we have been experiencing lately, I recently took a trip with my son to Manhattan and walk around the World Trade Center.  Whether a rainy, or a sunny day, one cannot ignore the ominous feeling of what occurred here 24 years ago on September 11^th. 

With all the people walking around, I was struck by the quiet, peaceful feeling as many walked around these massive structures.

The World Trade Center now consists of 4 Towers, the center being the “Freedom Tower.”

FREEDOM TOWER

The tallest structure among the World Trade Buildings is the Freedom Tower.  Constructed with 104 stories; one cannot help taking note that the Building itself measures 1776 feet which coincides with the year 1776 that our Country signed the Declaration of Independence declaring our “Freedom”. 

If you look closely at the pictures I took of the “Freedom Tower” you can see many of the 2,000 pieces of glass, along with the triangles towards the narrowing top which are meant to act as a kaleidoscope, refracting the light from many different angles.  Note: the picture I found taken on a sunny day with the clouds mirroring themselves on each piece and triangle portraying a structural work of art.

                             Freedom Tower Reflections on a Sunny Day!

 The picture below was taken on a cloudy, rainy day, but I was still able to capture the beauty of the many pieces of glass as the Tower is surrounded by the low clouds and fog. 

                         Freedom Tower surrounded by Clouds and Fog

MEMORIAL

A tribute to the past and a place of hope for the future — the 9/11 Memorial Plaza is a place of remembrance and an offering of hope.  The park is a contemplative sanctuary, composed of a grove of nearly 400 white oak trees where one can sit quietly and reflect on their own personal memories.  Also within this “Memorial Plaza” are two very large man made Waterfalls. Each set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers, measuring approximately 1-acre in size.   

                                                  Memorial Waterfalls

                                                    Memorial Park

 MEMORIAL OF NAMES

I think what touched me most was seeing the White Roses set among the nearly 3,000 names of the men, women and children lost in the attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993 (the first attack at the World Trade Center in NYC). The display of these names is the very heart of the Memorial.

Each name is inscribed on bronze parapets surrounding the twin Memorial pools.  As one stands there viewing the names while watching the Waterfalls, there is a quiet reverence for the many lives lost, and the over 700 people who were never found or have yet to be identified. Just two days ago, two more victims were identified from the small pieces of bones found among the rubble.

Standing there while the heavy rains continued to fall, nothing could dampen the feelings and memories embedded within from September 11, 2001. 

The Oculus

                                                            Oculus Building

Serving as the centerpiece of the World Trade Center, this very bizarre structure is called “The Oculus”.  The “Oculus” is the main Transportation Center for approximately 250,000 commuters daily.  The lower level is the main hub for connecting access to trains, subways, and ferry’s in lower Manhattan.

                                                 Inside the Oculus Building

                                           My son Ryan inside the Oculus Building

Walking through this massive 800,000 square foot structure, one is also drawn to the 78,000 square feet featuring two levels of high end retail stores and many places in which to eat.  Standing in the mezzanine, these pictures taken within, are just a glance of the enormity found within this structure.  The two levels of stores can be found along the left and right of the center hall.

                                 Manhattan behind the World Trade Center

I had to take this picture as it reflects New York City’s past, compared, but not overshadowed of New York City’s future, a future of life and hope.