I decided to give this topic on our New York visit a thread on it's
own.
DAY No. 2 (part 2).......GROUND ZERO
The next part of our excursion took us to Ground Zero, and if you don't mind, I'll pause here, and just ask everyone to have a few quiet moments before reading further. Playing this link first may help your frame of mind.
http://www.youtube.com/v/ebiSYwFbtvk&hl=en&fs=1
DAY No. 2 (part 2).......GROUND ZERO
The next part of our excursion took us to Ground Zero, and if you don't mind, I'll pause here, and just ask everyone to have a few quiet moments before reading further. Playing this link first may help your frame of mind.
http://www.youtube.com/v/ebiSYwFbtvk&hl=en&fs=1
The event of 11th September will not be just a memory of tragedy to many people. No doubt the people of London would argue that the continual bombing night
after night for years was worse. None the less, the loss of any life no matter how it happens is always sad. Anyway, please play the link below before you
start. When I watched it, I found difficulty relating it to what I actually saw right there in front of me. It is a sobering few minutes.
The hoarding at Ground Zero, The Tribute Center, and the ongoing
rebuilding works at the site.
We visited St.Paul's Chapel, the church nearest to the WTC on that
fateful day, and where the first victims came for shelter. 'People came together from all walks of life to comfort and heal each
other' the timeline said. The Chapel, established in
1766, is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use, it was
witness to the Great Fire of 1776 and was host to George Washington on his inauguration day.
The start of the timeline, St.Paul's Chapel, the view of Ground Zero
from the churchyard, and reflected in a window.
One of Pat's photos in the churchyard revealed something very
interesting while we were there. As we walked around the inside of the church, there were various memorials to those who lost their lives. Photos of family
members who were never to return, small mementos and trinkets found in the
aftermath, cuddly toys, service badges.
I'm sure manon won't mind me mentioning that she was overcome at this point and went outside. Pat left to see if manon was ok. I took the opportunity to clasp my hands and close my eyes for a while. Throbbing heat....I knew, and could feel the emotion !! The last thing I remember looking at as I left, which finally watered my eyes, was a fireman's jacket and helmet covered in ash/dust .......and one boot.......I left to join the other two.
Although photography appeared to be permitted in the Chapel, as a mark of respect, this was one occasion my camera remained silent.
I'm sure manon won't mind me mentioning that she was overcome at this point and went outside. Pat left to see if manon was ok. I took the opportunity to clasp my hands and close my eyes for a while. Throbbing heat....I knew, and could feel the emotion !! The last thing I remember looking at as I left, which finally watered my eyes, was a fireman's jacket and helmet covered in ash/dust .......and one boot.......I left to join the other two.
Although photography appeared to be permitted in the Chapel, as a mark of respect, this was one occasion my camera remained silent.
The Bell of Hope which is rung every 11th September. It was created at the Whitechapel foundry in England, which also cast the Liberty Bell, and London's Big Ben. We all left that scene
in quiet contemplation.
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