Mark Allen and Gregory Naiborne lived a few blocks from the World Trade Center and were among the shell-shocked residents who didn't know what to do. The two of them walked around the streets of lower Manhattan, and Mark took these pictures, the first batch soon after the second plane hit and the second batch later that night.
When ash covered everything like snow.
Part One
http://www.markallencam.com/nycblowup.html
Part Two
http://www.markallencam.com/nycblowup2.html
The moment before the second tower explodes
And the moment after:
A debris-covered woman wandering north from the World Trade Center area. I saw shell-shocked people like that all day long going by my apartment, 2 1/2 miles north. The people who run the Korean market in our building was handing out bottled water to the refugees.
The shot of the dust covered bicycle got to me. I lived on John street 3 blocks from the towers. I was one of the last people to leave that area once it was declared a no man's land. Walking the ash and paper strewn street and seeing everything covered in that fine grey (now know as poisonous) dust seeing shoes, handbags, briefcases, purses, bicycles abandoned in the middle of the street and coffee carts proudly displaying their ash covered baked goods were the things that nightmares are made of.
I walked on the roadway of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was deserted by then. One of the most eeriest experiences ever. My old dog was with me. Watched a battleship enter the harbor and dock at South Street Seaport.
Yep...Lived down there on the right hand side. When the power went out and the Mayor declared that area be evacuated, I stayed as long as I could.
I had taken my dog out after the first tower came down. I went down to Ground zero to see if there was anything I could do. I got as far as Church Street. There was absolutely NO visibility there. Out of a huge grey cloud came a Police officer pretty much the same color as the cloud. I still remember the look on his face. Pure terror! I asked him if there were anything for me to do. He said, "If I were you I would go home and be safe, there is really nothing anybody can do at this moment."
When I got back to my building, the second tower came down. We struggled to hold the revolving doors against the force of the wind that was created by it's collapse. The air was BLACK and papers were pressed up against the glass.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
I remember fighter jets flying over Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights where I was and all the coming over the Bridge that were covered in ashes...
http://www.911memorial.org/webcam
Honestly, I am not a fan of this memorial. Sorry, reminds me of a leaky basement. Do we really need two hugh holes leading to a void?
I am steering clear of network news tooday. I have decided I do not have to relive this day again. The above pictures are hard enough to look at. Never forget? If forgetting was even possible!
I'm remembering friends lost.
I forgot I had posted these. Never forget.
My original link lost its way...
I thought it was fitting that from the ashes:
Rise Up
Updated On: 9/11/12 at 12:25 PM
WTC memorial magnificent, but at a steep price
I am not a fan of the Memorial. New York is a living thriving City, we don't need a huge Memorial/Tourist Attraction in the center of the Financial district. People are complaining now that tourists are treating it like Disneyland…what did they expect?
I was for rebuilding on the site, towers more magnificent exactly where the old ones stood. Leaving the basement level with the names of those who lost their lives incscribed on the walls as a place for quiet reflection, meditation and contemplation. I lost a couple friends and a family member on that day.
And I just got finished reading an article that said people were upset that life was moving on and that people were just 'going about their day'.
We have to. Otherwise, they win.
I hear you, SNAFU. Up until last year, I had never been over to the WTC site. I guess I just didn't feel a reason to. I had no interest in remembering the day by looking at a dirt site or construction. Interestingly, my parent's friends from Colorado wanted to look at that when we were in the city last summer. The thing they have on Vesey street, where you get the tickets to go into the site was too much for me. I did go when it finally was opened, but I don't think I will go again.
And I get people are still haunted by this day. I know those images are still etched in my brain, but we definitely do have to keep moving forward. I dislike it now where people are like "we can't do that on 9/11 because that happened." Well, I'm sure we could find something tragic on every day of the year and where would that leave us with moving on with our lives?
The Memorial entry point is also very close to where people come in and out for the PATH, which can get very congested in of itself.
And people keep saying it should be a national holiday. Kids getting a day off from school and the inevitable retail blowout sales ( which I would not be surprised is happening now in parts of the country like Fasion's Night Out but all day) seem like the worst recipe for remembrance.
"9/11 Blow Out Sale!" doesn't sound too respectful to me.
How long will it be before we have something like this?
http://www.activecastles.com/images/p001_1_00.png
So much for respect and a sense of decorum.
How did I know that was going to be that awful Titanic bounce house before I even clicked on it....
Because it seems that is exactly where I think we all see this going in time.
People started turning that space into Disneyland 11 years ago. This isn't new.
It's really quite a beautiful memorial. I look down on it every day from the office building in which I work. The new World Trade One is going to be stunning. I've been working down here for 5 years+ and it's been lovely to watch the progress happen.
Our hearts should remember, and follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
There was a segment on 60 Minutes this past Sunday on the proposed museum. If everything comes together as was shown and discussed, it looks to be a beautiful and moving tribute to the victims, families and survivors.
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