I’m in New York City attending a Writer’s Digest conference, soaking up as much information as I can about the writing and publishing industry.
My first stop after checking in at the hotel was a subway ride to the site of the former World Trade Center. The timing was simple – it was on my ‘to-do’ list and was the only place on my list open until 9 pm. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 13 years since that tragic, awful day. The wounds for New Yorkers are still fresh and raw. I shared a cab ride from the airport with someone I’d never met. When I asked her opinion of the museum I didn’t expect her response “I don’t think I want to go. I was there that day, you know.” I pulled out pad and paper and she just kept talking and remembering from that day. She was on the last train out of the WTC and had no clue what was going on until she got to the Jersey side and turned to see what everyone was looking at. Goosebumps for me. Thanks for sharing Vanessa.
Later as I approached the site, I saw people standing in front of a fire station taking pictures. It hit me – this is the fire station directly across from the plaza, as in 20 feet from the plaza. Two firefighters stood there posing for cameras – I do wonder if they felt like they were in a zoo just posing for tourists. On the side of the building was a long bronze mural in honorarium.
Inside the museum is a mashed up firetruck from Engine Company 3. The entire front cab is gone. All 11 firefighters on the truck rushed into the building. All 11 died.
More on the museum and relevance of history in next post . . . . 
