The Memorials

The 9/11 Memorial is definitely worth visiting and once the museum is open (planned for spring 2014) will probably be even more meaningful than it already is.
The last time I saw the area was in 2011 when I attended with school. While recovery was still taking place, I was very impressed by the transformation from that time and the respectful memorial and park area being developed. Just like the first time, it was just as breathtaking for me.

I’ve been to many memorials, but this is by far the most breathtaking beautiful one I’ve been to. By beautiful, I don’t just mean the way it looks, but what it represents. The memorial being the size of how the building was really puts it into perspective.

Regardless of the amount of names shown, it still felt just as personal to me. I kept noticing white flowers, and I found out it was placed because it was that persons birthday. It was very moving.

As Jonah said in class, the constant flow of water and its noise, may have represented the constant outcries and voices of the people who were lost. The first time I have been there, I haven’t noticed the tree that was standing opposite the memorial as we walked in. It was tied down and wrapped all around– keeping it in place.. and an observer told me that the reason this tree is being sacred is because it was the only tree that wasn’t diminished and destroyed during the time of 9/11.

Walking in, I felt a sense of happiness or…relief, at the way it was upheld. You were able to tell through the amount of security, how clean they kept it, and from the amount of people/tourists were there, that it was still something people held close to their hearts. It might be because I remember exactly where I was during 9/11, and during our lifetime, but I felt a connection. Looking at the new buildings being made, gave me a sense of pride but also mixed feelings. I was pleased to see that people wouldn’t let these terrorists stop us from building, but also nervous in the way that I wondered: Is this a replacement of what was? Do you think people will choose to go back, or will it be a possible danger, regardless of security? What is the significance of this new building?

I have never been to the Vietnam memorial. Upon arriving, I felt bad. While one may call it beauty, I find the beauty in the people who visit, and this memorial looked like the type to be ‘that the only people who come are the ones who have a personal connection to one of the soldiers’. It was in between two buildings, was dark, the water fountain didn’t work, located by a restaurant, but at the same time one may say that it being isolated and not so populated gave it a sense of peacefulness, being alone, not busy, closure or what not. The flowers I felt gave the ‘light’ and life there. What got to me was the ages of these soldiers. I’m 19, and it is startling trying to reflect what these men had to do. The letters written on the wall also made it very personal. Much of it was too difficult to read, but the pieces able to be made out really touched me.