A few months ago, Meriam Lobel from the Tribute World Trade Visitor Center called me to tell me about a new exhibit the museum was planning and asked if I’d like to be a part of it. To be honest, I didn’t even know that the Tribute Center existed. I’ve only been to Ground Zero a handful of times – and it was usually linked to the bike ride I did heading from there back to Boston. As I learned more about the museum and specifically about the new exhibit they had in mind, I was excited to be a part of it. The new exhibit, called Renewing Our American Dream after 9/11, shares the experiences of 12 people (clean-up workers, family members who lost loved ones, community leaders, educators, and students) in their own voices and images. For my part, they wanted me to share my story – why I decided to reach out to Afghan widows after Dave was killed.
The new exhibit opened on March 5th, and not longer after that, I had an opportunity to go to NYC for the weekend. I visited the Tribute WTC Visitor Center on a Friday afternoon and was shocked by how crowded it was! I suppose I forget how curious people are about the events surrounding the tragedy. Sometimes it feels so personal to me that I forget its affect on the rest of the world while other times it feels like 9/11 belongs to the world and has nothing to do with me and my family. Anyway, on that particular day, I felt a little overwhelmed by everything. I was visiting NYC with friends from high school and really did not want to be in a “9/11 place.” So, I basically kept my head down, ran downstairs to the exhibit where I was featured, looked around (the other people featured are amazing), and ran out. Out of the corner of my eye, I did see a part of a plane (I think it might have been from American Airlines Flight 11). I didn’t have the energy to go to that place but, at some point, when I can devote quality time to really take it all in, I know that I will go back.
If you’re interested in visiting the museum, it’s located at 120 Liberty Street (right across from Ground Zero). Their website is http://www.tributewtc.org/
I just found out they recently welcomed their one millionth visitor!
About the Tribute WTC Visitor Center
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center is located at 120 Liberty Street along the south side of the World Trade Center site. The center was created by the September 11th Families’ Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan. By engaging visitors in the authentic experiences of those most affected by the events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, the center’s five galleries and its walking tour program convey the courage, loss, heroism, and grief of those who responded to the tragedy.
The new exhibit opened on March 5th, and not longer after that, I had an opportunity to go to NYC for the weekend. I visited the Tribute WTC Visitor Center on a Friday afternoon and was shocked by how crowded it was! I suppose I forget how curious people are about the events surrounding the tragedy. Sometimes it feels so personal to me that I forget its affect on the rest of the world while other times it feels like 9/11 belongs to the world and has nothing to do with me and my family. Anyway, on that particular day, I felt a little overwhelmed by everything. I was visiting NYC with friends from high school and really did not want to be in a “9/11 place.” So, I basically kept my head down, ran downstairs to the exhibit where I was featured, looked around (the other people featured are amazing), and ran out. Out of the corner of my eye, I did see a part of a plane (I think it might have been from American Airlines Flight 11). I didn’t have the energy to go to that place but, at some point, when I can devote quality time to really take it all in, I know that I will go back.
If you’re interested in visiting the museum, it’s located at 120 Liberty Street (right across from Ground Zero). Their website is http://www.tributewtc.org/
I just found out they recently welcomed their one millionth visitor!
About the Tribute WTC Visitor Center
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center is located at 120 Liberty Street along the south side of the World Trade Center site. The center was created by the September 11th Families’ Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan. By engaging visitors in the authentic experiences of those most affected by the events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, the center’s five galleries and its walking tour program convey the courage, loss, heroism, and grief of those who responded to the tragedy.
Fantastic that they included you! I hope you will find some time to tour it thoughtfully, when you are ready.
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