Just got back from Ground Zero, NYC

[user-7256]

I got back from New York City this weekend just yesterday... we visited the WTC site.

Man, that was something else... it certainly was one of the most humbling and grievous moments I've ever had. Nothing ever before has filled me with so much sadness and anger so quickly.

You stand there, and you look up at the sky, and you replay the scenes in your head... the planes' impact, the debris and fire falling, the people falling, then the towers. You imagine the chaos and the intensity of it all, and you realize that the worst evil manifested itself there.

Even though I lost no family or relatives that day, I - along with the rest of my tour group - started bawling... some recounted visions they've had there of those who had lost their lives... some wallowed and fell to the ground in grief, and you remember all the fear and terror that took place here, and any one person would realize, that THIS is why we're at war. God was with them... and you could tell.

Across the sidewalk a man was playing "Nearer, My God, To Thee" on his wooden Fife... truly complementing the calm spirit of the place.





Well, anywho, I know this may seem kinda weird and "mushy" (?) but I just felt like sharing my thoughts.

My photo documentation can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattholt/sets/72157600044051393/

Anybody else had a similar experience?


-Matt

(...don't make this political.... please....)

 

[Humdizzy]

Heh, you kind of get used to seeing ground zero living with it. I see people walking by all the time just going about their business, smiling and laughing. I'm one of them, sadly.

One of the "back to reality" moments for me was just a few weeks ago when a guy with some kind of ID was trying to get into the Firehouse to take a picture before he went back to Iraq.

I haven't really felt it since going down there a couple of days after they fell.

 

[swimjenni]

I've never been to NYC before but got a special tour of the pentagon in 2004. One of the areas we got to see was the area the plane hit. The plane hit right next to the only chapel in the pentagon. When they rebuild it, they added a 9/11 memorial with some stained glass, a block with the names, and different things. The 2 rooms now connect. It was very sad in there.

 

[LittleFly]

I've never been to NYC too. Yes it's sadly story.

 

[lpstong]

I had a cousin who died in 9/11 in NYC. And another cousin who is a Major in the Army. Who was late cause his wife yelled at him to take out the trash before leaving. would have died at the Pentagon if it were not his procrastination with the trash. The meeting he was suppose to have that morning was in the section of the building the plane crashed into.

 

[networkmsia]

Sorry to hear about that Linda :hearts: :hearts: :hearts:

I have never been to America yet, hopefully soon i will get to join you guys

 

[AzN]

I understand what you mean... visiting a historic area where thousands of people died... eeek :td:

 

[CrazyTech]

I cannot imagine standing there even now. I know it's part of life for those who live and work in and around the area...we all have to move on eventually...but seeing it in real life for the first time. I'm not a big city person, but that is one trip that would be worth taking.

I know I would have lost it on Nearer My God to Thee. I love the song, but I'm always brought back to the story on the Titanic when they played it there. The song rings true, but it is perhaps the most mornful song I've ever heard.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[user-7256]

lpstrong - wow... my thoughts go out to your family - even now, and I solute your cousins. (Yes, both of them.)

 

[CyXic]

Those are some nice pcitures. When is the new tower supposed to be up? You can see construction in some of the pics.

 

[user-7256]

Thanks.

Um... tower date? I don't know