Tribute Center

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to tour

the Tribute Center and Ground Zero yesterday with several friends,

including my friend Michele who is one of the guides

She has been involved since "day one" and it was

so much more special having her with us

To be a guide you have to have some connection to 9/11

In other words you had to be involved in some way

Michele lived only blocks from the towers, as did her son and her

husband worked there

Luckily, they all survived, but were effected emotionally

I was in New York on 9/11, I worked in mid-Manhattan and

it is a day that will remain forever engraved

in my mind and in my heart

Below are some of the pictures from yesterday's visit

You MUST put it on your Bucket List

Yes, it is sad and touching, but we must never forget

that this happened.

This tribute wall is much more beautiful in person

It is outside the tribute center which is next door to Firehouse Three

This Firehouse was not a first responder because they

were out on a call when the Tower's were hit

For this reason they "only" lost six firemen

This is an overview of the building of "One World Trade Center"

which is the official name of the new building

It is NOT being called the Freedom Tower

To the right of the picture you can see the South Bridge

That bridge used to go across the entire street

Notice there is a small hole at the top

That happened on 9/11 and they have no plans on fixing it

It is not a structural damage and they want it there to remind

people of what happened

Also, there was a North Bridge and there are no plans to replace

that bridge

This is a picture of the Memorial Park when you walk in

It is serene and park-like (a little more concrete that i imagined)

but very tranquil

No words can describe the feeling when you walk up to the pools

To imagine that this is the actual footprint of the South Tower

is mind boggling...

They truly did an amazing job

So sorry this picture will not turn around

This is the pear tree that survived the collapse of the twin towers

It was discovered in the rubble of 9/11 and was replanted

at the Memorial Plaza

It had snapped roots and a blackened trunk and was

only 8 feet high when it was taken to a

Parks Department in the Bronx

They nursed it back to health and it now stands

about 30 feet high!!!

This is a picture of the Museum which will be open next year

for the eleventh anniversary

It is supposed to be amazing!!!

We were able to get a small glimpse in...

Exactly the same as the South Pool only this is where the

North Tower stood

The water runs constantly and is soothing and healing

Again, I apologize this is not in the correct direction

Here stands One World Trade Center in all its glory...

I did not take any pictures at the Tribute Center

It was too moving, too personal, too tragic...

Make sure you do not miss it when you go

All surviving family members were asked to send in

photos, mementos or whatever of their loved ones

This room is just too much to bear...

Michele told us that some families are still getting calls

that remains have been identified

Some families have been called up to ten times

Many families have asked not to be called anymore

It is just too painful already - too much to handle

The stories are endless

The tragedies are beyond our wildest dreams

But yet there are also hopes that have come out of all this

Hopes that people have become better

Hopes that the world will become a better place

Hopes that we will all learn something from

these tragedies

To all of you I wish you love and peace

Peggy