When people ask me what they should do when they come to New York City, I don’t tell them to go to Broadway or Wall St.  I tell them to go to the 9/11 memorial.  It is life changing and a very important reminder that we all need to have.  Seeing the pictures in the museum and hearing survivors and family members of survivors tell their story is very powerful.  This past year the two fountains finally opened to the public and we went to see them for the first time while Alli was here.  It was again a very moving experience.  There were not many children there, I noticed, and at first I felt guilty for bringing ours.  But I want them to know.  I want them to know what those two gigantic holes in the ground represent.  I want them to never forget.  They need to be aware that evil is out there and that they should do all they can to fight it.  I haven’t gone into tons of detail about that day with them but enough for them to understand the fountain’s significance.  When we got to the portion of the fountains where the flight 93 names were listed I told them about it.  We don’t know for sure whether the plane crashed as a result of the passengers fighting the terrorists or if it was actually shot down by a missile, but we do know that several passengers on board did their best to stop what was happening.  They are heroes and I want my kids to know about them.  I want them to know about the more than 300 firefighters and policeman who also gave their lives to save others.  I want them to know about my experience that day.  As most people do I’m sure, I remember it very clearly.  My hands shaking as I unlocked my classroom door, turning on the radio to hear an emotional radio announcer reporting that people were actually jumping from the buildings, standing in the library watching a tv screen in disbelief as the towers crashed to the ground. I remember trying to explain to my sweet little first graders Why and not really having any answers. It was a heartbreaking day.  But we owe it to all those people whose names are engraved on these fountains to remember.  

 



The Freedom Tower-WTC 1 again officially the tallest building in NYC