In Memoriam

I got-- again-- a late start today. But it was (a bit) cooler out than it has been, so I decided to do something I have been meaning to do, but hadn't yet gotten it together to do: I went down to the September 11, 2001 memorial. The memorial plaza is surrounded by construction of the new World Trade Center buildings, so for safety reasons the city is currently regulating how many people can visit at a time; in order to go, I had to make a reservation ahead of time. My reservation was for 5:30pm, the earliest time available.

I headed down to the financial district a couple hours early, because I knew that there were some other 9/11-related spaces near there that I could visit before my scheduled time. One of those was St. Paul's Cathedral. St.Paul's is a very, very old Episcopal cathedral, located right across from the WTC site. It has an interesting history. Dating to the pre-Revolutionary War era, the cathedral-- mostly by chance-- has laid witness to some of the defining moments of American history. During the Revolution, after the Brits had captured lower Manhattan, a fire broke out in what is now the financial district. To save the cathedral, the residents of the area spent all night taking buckets of water from the Hudson, and dousing the exterior, so that it wouldn't catch fire. And they saved it. After the Revolution, when George Washington was inaugurated as the first President, he came and attended a service at the Cathedral. A reconstruction of his presidential "box" is still housed in the interior. And when Sept. 11 happened, the Cathedral transformed into a command center of sorts for those who were working rescue and recovery. For 9 months, until the site of destruction had been cleared, the Cathedral provided food and shelter to those volunteers who were working 12-18 hour shifts trying to, at first find survivors and remains, and later clearing out the debris. The edges of the interior of the Cathedral, display many artifacts and memorials dating to around that time.

The Cathedral also houses a small cemetery, which is fascinating. The most recent tomb probably dates from the late 1800s; most are from the mid-1800s or earlier. Several tombs date from before the Revolution. In fact, there are several tombs marked as belonging to Revolutionary War veterans. I am ever the history buff, and just in general find cemeteries interesting and oddly peaceful. I have always liked cemeteries, actually. Maybe I am just weird like that. The sad thing is, a lot of the information on the headstones have washed away with time; now, they silently lay witness to someone whose identity has been lost to time. Anyway, below are photos from St. Paul's.

View of the right side of the cemetery

Translation from the French inscription: "E.M. Bechet, Sieur de Rochefontaine. Dedicated himself to the military career, where he long distinguished himself. He served under the Count de Rochambeau during the American campaign, gloriously ended in 1782 by the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which ended that war. Louis XVI in 1792 named him ADJUDANT GENERAL of the Army of St. Domingue. After the death of the King, he entered into service of the United States as Colonel, until he retired in 1798, to enjoy in friendship a reputation well deserved, and a repose well worthily merited."

Resting place of a French veteran, J. Francis Vacher, d.1837, of the American Revolutionary War

"Erected to the memory of George Frederick Cooke, 1756-1812, by Edmund Kean of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1821. Three kingdoms claim his birth. Two hemispheres pronounce his worth."

Another view of the cemetery, protected by the shade of a grove of trees

The following are photographs from the 9/11 Memorial, and around the World Trade Center site and construction. Other than to tell you what these pictures show, I am not going to say anything more because, really, what else is there to say?

American flag and 9/11 remembrance posters on the side of some of the construction of the new World Trade Center buildings

South Tower memorial pool with cascading water

Names of the United Flight 93 victims. All the names of 9/11 victims are etched in a bronze edge that traces the perimeters of both tower memorials

View of the construction on and surrounding the Freedom Tower, built in place of the old World Trade Center towers

North Tower memorial pool and waterfall. These pools are in the exact imprint of where the Twin Towers used to stand

Lone flower laid in memoriam at one of the names of the victims

"Patricia Ann Cimaroli Massari and her unborn child"

I had sat down on one of the benches in the memorial plaza, to think and take it all in. I happened to look up, and this is what I saw. Rising anew from the memory of those lost

The steeple of St. Paul's Cathedral. It has seen it all, and has kept standing through the ages

Coming out of the memorial, I was reminded why I am entering the career I am. This memorial-- with all those names of lives lost-- should not have to exist.

Never Forgotten

Photo by stealingsand on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons