Why Your Family Needs to Visit NYC on 9/11

We will never forget.

As Americans, we will never forget the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, and our family will never forget spending the 13th anniversary of this day in New York City.

I never truly understood the depth of the physical and emotional devastation here until finally witnessing it firsthand in 2014 during our RV trip around the USA.

THE 9/11 MEMORIAL PLAZA

The 9/11 Memorial Plaza pays tribute to the past and is a place of hope for the future. The names of every person who perished in the terror attacks are honored in bronze around the twin Memorial pools. Each pool is approximately 1-acre in size and features the largest manmade waterfalls in the United States.

TRIBUTE IN LIGHT

The Tribute in Light is an amazing artistic symbol of survival and carrying on. Six months after the Twin Towers fell, these two beams lit the sky and have done so annually as a Sept. 11 commemoration.

You have to go experience this for yourself. Words and pictures simply cannot do it justice.

The 9/11 MEMORIAL MUSEUM 

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is located within the archaeological heart of the original World Trade Center site. The Museum is our country’s main institution concerned with exploring the history of that tragic date, through exhibits, archives and monumental artifacts.

Paying reverent homage to the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks, the museum also recognizes the thousands who survived and all who showed extraordinary courage & compassion in the catastrophe’s aftermath. 

I’ll be honest, it was difficult having to answer all of the kids’ questions while wanting to be alone with my own thoughts and feelings here. I despise that such tragedy even has to be explained to them.

We stood together watching videos of the terrorists going through security lines at our US airports and we watched people jump out of burning buildings to their death. It’s surreal and heartbreaking on so many levels.

The Museum is not open on Sept. 11, so you will need to plan your visit accordingly. Be prepared to experience overwhelming emotions while here. I found myself suppressing my tears as I just wanted to fall to my knees and bawl throughout the Museum. I fluctuated between deep anger and hatred, to pride and infinite love for our country.

I felt really sorry that I had waited so long to come here.

As painfully heartbreaking as it is to experience, it is necessary to bring your family here to honor the victims and the heroes of 9-11.

We will never forget you. God Bless America.