9/11 Memorial Museum

There are some places that are not only filled with observances, but experiences.

Some even pierce you at your core.

You wonder, empathize, mourn, and are somehow changed for good.

I sure wanted to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and am beyond glad I did.

What exactly is there? It's a large museum--several floors--filled with artifacts from the terrorist attack--all from pieces and large structures of the building and firetrucks and ambulances that were once filled with people that rushed to rescue strangers. You are taken through the timeline of what happened--minute by minute, with how still life was at first and then leading to each horror. Personal accounts and news reports blaring all over. You could go in rooms to listen to actual messages and phone calls to loved ones as they saw their fate. There were stories of those who passed in order to save others, as they were declared heroes--from men and women to a police dog. Their uniforms, badges, personal items were carefully placed in displays. 

You see the recorded horror and remember/learn about this tragedy. And yet, you can feel the power of these people. Your Adam's apple swells and you fight back tears,  feeling influenced by the benevolence these individuals had shown. You can feel how a nation came together at this time. You see the great courage and sacrifice they gave. 

(Sorry, we were not allowed to take many photos in this exhibit.)

This was a mosaic of all different shades of blue to represent the color of the sky earlier that morning.

Near the end of the experience, after soaking it all in for about two hours, feeling emotionally weighed down, I hoped there would be something uplifting at the end. Surely enough, and the part that must have hit me the hardest, was when I entered the large room filled with videos and news reports of how the nation came together. Healing was required for everyone, and strangers reached out to one another to offer compassion, empathy, and service. Posters and videos were all over for these service offerings for anyone--even from free cups of coffee at cafe's, massages, food, and any source of comfort. Many people flooded chapels for religious services, searching for meaning in life and help from God. Nobody cared what each other's religion was--there was acceptance and compassion shown. Hand-written and hand-drawn cards were displayed from children, which were given to victims who fought for their lives at hospitals. You could hear the testimonials of how this nation became united and changed--forever.

Through this experience, I then understood why they say, "Never forget 9/11." It's so easy to forget the bravery of those who lost their lives or almost lost them, with how many fought for theirs and others' lives. It's easy to forget the love shown, how we all came together, reaching out no matter each other's differences. We were all brothers and sisters, depending on the same God and each other. Let's please never forget.

Ground Zero--where one of the towers once stood (There was another for the other tower too.)