“No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”
Recollections of September 11, 2001 have started to recede. The generation growing up now wasn’t old enough to remember, and so we learn about the horror from others. There are books, pictures, captured footage, documentaries, and now, museums.
“May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance, and intolerance.”
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is located on 180 Greenwich Street, blocks away from the Financial District and a tad south of Stuyvesant High School. It lies within viewing distance of the newly erected Freedom Tower, and the memorial to which its name alludes is situated on top of the Twin Towers’ footprints. No matter what time of the year it is, there are people—people arching their heads back to look at the flowing pool of water, people searching for a name, people staring up at the sky and looking off into the distance. There are people mourning, learning, and thinking, but most importantly, there are people remembering.
There are always people remembering. And that’s exactly what the museum is for.
After all, September 11 wasn’t just a tragedy for New York. It was an act of terror that affected the nation and set off a chain of global impact. The museum serves to highlight that impact and to emphasize its importance through a number of powerful exhibitions. There are remnants from the scene, a timeline of events, and a collection of photos that depict the attempt to rebuild.
Most importantly, however, there is In Memoriam, an exhibition dedicated solely to the lives of the victims—reveling in them, celebrating them, and, not surprisingly, remembering them for their contributions to society. Portraits of the lives lost hang on the wall and nearby tables offer information, ranging from biographical data or audio recordings. It’s haunting but beautiful, showcasing bravery in inexplicable ways.
Fourteen years ago, New York was at a low point. If you look at us now, that’s hard to believe. We picked ourselves back up off the ground and started to fight again.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a symbol of that resilience and strength.
