OT: My visit yesterday to Ground Zero

(I posted this on another group and thought some of you might want to hear what it's like)

My visit to Ground Zero.... This was my fourth visit to NYC and the first time I went to see Ground Zero. I'm going to explain the experience through my eyes (YMMV): To me, the hole that's left from the collapse of the two towers was like a big open wound. I just stood there staring at the hole, while in my head I could hear the screams and see the bodies dropping from the sky on the horrific day. I didn't say a word while I was there mainly because I knew that if I opened my mouth to speak, the tears that were behind my sunglasses would have no longer been a secret. There are a lot of signs/boards on the surrounding fence telling about the history of the WTC, the names of the people on the planes and a timeline of what occurred on that day. I chose not to read them. There was nothing on them that would have brought any peace to my mind or justified what happened. It was truly an emotional experience for me four years after the event. There is a large subway entrance that goes down under what was the WTC and it was really bizarre to watch people go in and out..never stopping to look back. I guess what I saw as an open wound is just a terrible scar to them and they've moved on. After walking around the outside fence, my dad and I went in St. Paul's Chapel across the street. It's the church that took care of the workers for the weeks/months following 9/11. Once again...a really tearful experience. There are banners hanging from the balconies that were sent to the chapel from around the world. There are all kinds of shirts, patches, letters, etc. displayed there. One of the most touching was a display of many chains of origami cranes that were folded and connected by children in Japan. And there was a t-shirt with a fingerprint of every child in a school in Alaska. If any of you decide to make the trip, take a tissue while you just stand there and ask yourself, "Why?". I don't know about anyone else, but time stopped for me. You're no longer in a hurry...and the little stuff no longer matters.

/J

Reply to
Jenn Vanderslice
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Wow, Jenn.... I got goosebumps all over just reading your thoughts and feelings about it. I would also be in tears if I ever went there and stood where that horror had taken place.

Thank you for sharing!

*hugs* Gemini
Reply to
MRH

Jenn,

Thanks for sharing your story and I know when I see the replays of it on TV even now I start to tear up. So many lives lost for no reason at all.

Hugs,

Nora

Reply to
norabalcer

Jenn,

Thanks for sharing your story and I know when I see the replays of it on TV even now I start to tear up. So many lives lost for no reason at all.

Hugs,

Nora

Reply to
norabalcer

Jenn, your account of your visit to Ground Zero and the nearby church brought tears to my eyes. I think that it's a hurt to all of us that will never, never get any easier to remember. It may be four years later, but it's still like it happened yesterday.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Rusty

Reply to
Rusty

I thought over the past several years that I was becoming numb to the whole incident. But...surprise! It wasn't to be. Maybe others will or have reacted differently than I did, but I found myself dealing with the sounds and images of the disaster running through my mind and I found myself looking at the ground and imagining the images I had seen on TV of the ash and papers drifting down the streets. It didn't seem to matter that the streets were clean of all the debris....I still saw the disaster. Guess I just wanted to forewarn anyone before the make the trip....

Sad...so still very sad...

Reply to
Jenn Vanderslice

Jenn ,Just the heading--"my visit..." almost brought me to tears, and your story really did. How can it not ???? I was in Canada when that dreadful thing happened and had moments before farewelled two friends from Seattle who had been staying with us ( these are visiting me next week ). I was numb for days - wondered how these friends would get across the border -I worried about two friend who worked in the Pentagon - I worried too about friends who lived in New York City - what use was worry ?- what use even tears? I pray that this disaster was not in vain - have we learned anything? One thing for sure the world will never be the same. Even from way down here the mere mention of Ground Zero sends a chill through the heart

I guess all we can do is leave it in God's hands. God bless you and God Bless America Gwen

Reply to
Gwendoline Kelly

Jenn, I have what southerner's call... chicken skin (ie: goosebumps) and tears streaming down my face... Hugs, Noreen

Reply to
The YARNWRIGHT

Wow, Jenn, what an experience! Thanks for sharing it.

Katherine

Reply to
Katherine

Hi Jenn Gosh, you've painted a very clear picture of it all, I don't think I could go, you are a braver person than I.

But you have given me the one hope I needed since this happened I collected a book full of condolences, and emailed NY firestation and police station, three or four times and never ever had a reply..With your description of St Pauls and what they have there, maybe I could send my booklet there..it has a crocheted cross bookmark in it, and I took it to my local church where it has been blessed and crossed with Holy Water, since then it has just sat here because I haven't anywhere to send it to...

Thanks for sharing your experiences and thanks for giving me the name of the church, I will look this up on the net now and see if there is a name of a Priest or something

Kind regards......Cher

Reply to
spinninglilac

Hi Cher,

Try:

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Hi Jenn

Reply to
Jenn Vanderslice

X-No-Archive:yes Jenn - thanks for writing about Ground Zero. I live in Connecticut next door to a church where every day since 9/11 they have played patriotic music on their carillion at noon and in the evening. It is a quiet reminder of that day for me. Never forget.

Reply to
Joan

Awww, that is so nice, Joan! Such a lovely way to keep the memory of those lost alive!

*hugs* Gemini

Reply to
MRH

Jenn Vanderslice wrote in news:hRtaf.28087$W%2.16514@trnddc06:

I have two pictures of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and this text from a speech given by the founder of CAIR.

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth." (07/01/1998) Omar M. Ahmad, founder and chairman of the Board of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Reply to
Fay

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