Last year for Memorial Day, after our visit on the USS Intrepid, we were driving through New York and realized that the 9/11 Memorial was finally open. We pulled over to try to figure out how to visit but closing time was approaching and tickets were definitely out of the question. And since then, visiting the memorial has been on our list of things to make sure we do before leaving.
It’s maybe somewhat fitting then that we made it back a year later… Memorial Day is effectively the unofficial start of summer here in the US and I love all the summertime things that go with it. But increasingly, as I get older, I find that it’s also incorporate something that’s actually “memorial” about it. After, it’s meant to honor those that gave a life so that we wouldn’t have to…
You’ll see lots of flags, that’s for sure, but as you read the names on the memorial, you realize that the names are from all over…It also makes you realize how unique the make-up of the US really is – you can recognizes names from nearly any nationality there…And the memorial I think really goes out of its way to make the information available in scores of languages for the visitors that really are from around the world…
Beautiful photos! As someone who, among other topics, studies memorialization and collective memory, I would love to visit the memorial and cannot believe I haven't had the chance to do that yet. Thank you for telling its story.
Roxanne, how interesting to study memorialization….i have a thing for memorials but never thought to think behind how they form collective memory – any recommended reading on the topic? Looking for something for my next plane ride!
Lovely photos as always!
Thanks, Sara!
What gorgeous photographs.
It looks like you were blesses with beautiful weather as well!
We were indeed – the prior two days were so cold in the NY/NJ area but that day we lucked out….made it all the more beautiful!