A Calm Commemoration

During my freshman year, my family took a trip to New York City. We toured all of the typical attractions, like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, and also visited the 9/11 Memorial. I found every feature of this memorial intriguing, which is why I am choosing to display its significance and hopefully inspire some to visit it through my writing. 

The 9/11 Memorial is located in the center of New York City, where the Twin Towers once stood. The area is now occupied by two empty pools flowing with water, which represents absence from the lives that were lost on 9/11. 

One of my favorite elements about this memorial is its simplicity. The designers chose to use dark colors for the surface and engrave the names of everyone who passed away into the memorial. This simple arrangement creates a peaceful nature. 

While reading Postcards from the Trenches in English class, I came across Allyson Booth’s belief that “the incorporation of memorials into the center of town life gives the dead their own place at that center,” which relates to the location of the 9/11 Memorial (Booth). It is positioned in a crowded, urban city where 9/11 occurred, which allows those who passed away to be continuously praised upon by the many civilians and remain a part of the city. 

All of these aspects combined into one presented a huge impact on me as I left this memorial. I hope that this piece provided helpful information about the 9/11 Memorial and I strongly recommend that everybody take a visit if ever in New York City. Feel free to go to https://www.911memorial.org for more information!