On Tuesday, May 27th, the students from the US History classes visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Personally, having gone on this trip, I felt that it was eye opening and showed me the vast amount of people that were harmed by this event. The memorial was 2 stories; there was an upper level with paintings and pieces of the wall or structures within one of the twin towers, and a lower level with several rooms and a large exhibition.
Down the escalators for all to see is a notable painting made by artist Spencer Finch. The artist created this painting to capture all the colors of the sky throughout the day, naming the piece “Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning”. To the right, there is a room containing pictures and names of all those who perished on the day. I found this room particularly touching because it reminds you that every single person had a complex life of their own, which was taken from them on September 11th, 2001. Within this room, there was an open area with a projector displaying each person, one by one, with family members describing their loved ones that they lost. I found this room difficult to leave, and I wished that I could stay and listen to all the stories.
Further past this room, is a hallway leading upstairs to an exhibit displaying children’s art in 2001. These drawings depicted firefighters, towers burning, and images of scared faces. You could clearly feel the emotions from the children at the time and their fear.
To the left of the escalator were several artifacts that were recovered from the tragic event: an old used fire truck, pillars holding the southern tower, and bags from the event. There was a historical exhibition just past these artifacts, filled with thorough information about the event. The exhibition followed the order: during the event, before the event, and the aftermath. The beginning of it depicted images and video recordings of the police and firefighters running to save people, as well as news recordings. It was saddening to see all these people suffering and running away from the falling building. Hidden away from the easy view was a video displaying people who chose to take their own life by jumping, as they preferred to leave by their own choice instead. I personally was emotional at the fact people had to make this choice for themselves.
Another person specifically that touched me was Welles Remy Crowther, who sacrificed his own life to carry people to the one working staircase, perishing in the process. Many people he saved recognized his bandana that he used to block his mouth, and felt grateful to the sacrifice he made.
In the “Before 9/11” section, we could see and listen to videos of the hijackers hired by the leaders of Al-Qaeda passing through security at the airport as well as recordings of announcements these hijackers made on the planes. These videos and recordings place you yourself into the shoes of the victims of 9/11, and was a truly frightening experience. The “After 9/11” section showcased acts of service people performed to assist others, and mainly focused on the recovery effort of firefighters and service dogs. Over the course of a week, over a thousand workers had come to help in the recovery process, saving many lives. Despite many bodies having been found, many were not found and families were left heartbroken without their loved ones.
The 9/11 event left America in a state of grief and continues to be discussed in policy debates and constructive debates. I, and many others in the US History classes, found this trip to be very enriching and eye opening. I am very grateful that the school gave us the opportunity to witness the extent at which 9/11 affected America.