The New World Trade Center in New York City and Night Views

Image via Wikipedia

I am really digging the new World Trade Center (WTC also called the Freedom Center) in New York City, including the reflecting pool, inscriptions of the names of the victims and the lights at night on September 11, 2011.

Here is a map to the WTC site in the Lower Manhattan area of NYC.

We will start with a few of the stunning night shots of the Tower.

Seeing the Statue of Liberty in front of the lit WTC and the red, white & blue lights in the windows of the building to the left (I think it is the Empire State Building, does anyone know?) brings tears to my eyes.

Here the lights from the WTC pierce the night sky and the clouds over Manhattan.

There are a lot of photos at this site that I have seen nowhere else.  Make sure to check them out.  This photo of the reflecting pool is among them.

The reflecting pool sits at “Ground Zero” with the waterfall tumbling directly into the hole in the ground that resulted when the original Twin Towers fell so dramatically.  It tore our hearts to witness that, but this reflecting pool was an excellent decision of how best to rebuild the Ground Zero site.

Here is a link to a beautiful panoramic day time view of the WTC and surrounding buildings.

This link will take you to a real nice slide show of photos of WTC including some of the original design drawings.

And finally, this video takes you on a virtual tour of the WTC, the park site and the reflecting pool.   Daniel Libeskind, the architect of the new World Trade Center,  and Dara McQuillan Senior Vice President of the WTC Properties host the video.

I miss the original Twin Towers and still mourn the victims but I do think folks did a good job of rebuilding the WTC and ensuring that future generations will see and feel the importance of the site by setting aside a large chunk of the property for the park and reflecting pool with the names of the victims inscribed along the wall.

Related articles

• Video flashback: A ride to the Top of the World (deaconjohn1987.wordpress.com)
• Ten years later, World Trade Center cross still consoles (onecatholicnews.wordpress.com)
• Remembering the World Trade Center (3quarksdaily.com)
• “Ground Zero” Disappearing, WTC Is Back (annem040359.wordpress.com)
• One World Trade Center Taking Shape (929dave.radio.com)
• Of 9/11 Memorials, Monuments, and the WTC (volokh.com)

The Permanent 9/11 Memorial Monument At CalExpo in Sacramento California

Sacramento has a permanent monument to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center  in New York City, the Pentagon, and Flight 93..

“Cal Expo’s 9/11 Memorial Plaza is an outdoor permanent exhibit that covers the tragic events of September 11th; Flight 93, the Pentagon attack and  the World Trade Center attack.

The 9/11 Memorial Plaza features a steel  I-Beam, a 125,000 pound piece of wreckage from “Ground  Zero” at New York City’s World Trade Center; and a 5,180 pound granite sphere and fountain facet. The granite sphere is inscribed with the names of all 3,071 victims,  and is suspended upon a fountain of water which the ball to be felt and rotated by hand to view its entire surface. In 2003, a 50-foot-tall Carillon Bell  Tower with 23 “Singing Bells” was added to the Plaza display where it soothes and entertains visitors with a number of inspirational tunes.”

Mr Larry Davis was a former Cal Expo Board Member and was instrumental in establishing the monument.  He also founded the memorial fund which sought money to build and support the monument.   Mr Davis has since passed away.

If you would like to support the maintenance of the memorial, please consider providing a donation:

9/11 Memorial Plaza Fund
In Memory of Larry Davis
California Exposition & State Fair
P.O. Box 15649
Sacramento, CA 95852

The California State Fair Memorial Plaza Foundation is a
Public Charity and has been granted a 501(c)3 status by the Internal Revenue
Service which allows all donations to be tax deductible. 100% of all donations
will be used for the construction and maintenance of the Memorial Plaza.

The website of the Memorial Foundation is here.

Where/What is Cal Expo?

Cal Expo is the nickname for the California Exposition and State Fair.  It is located in the California State Capitol, Sacramento.

California Exposition & State Fair
1600 Exposition Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
916/263-3000     Toll Free 877/CALEXPO

Update September 12th:  At least 300 people turned out on the 11th just to touch and rub the giant sphere (ball) with the names of the WTC victims inscribed.  @SacBee has a nice article here about the various Sacramento 9/11 observances.

9/11 Memorial Activities and Events in and Around Sacramento, 2011

Image by Ken Lund via Flickr

Death Before Surrender

The new World Trade Center lights up the New York City sky on the night of September 10, 2011.  Thanks to Think Progress @thinkprogress

For the 10 year Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.A. there are a number of public events and activities to allow us to get together and remember the bravery of those who perished that day and celebrate the ongoing bravery of our men and women in the Armed Forces.

Be safe my brothers & sisters.  My prayers are with you.

This list comes from a recent article in the Sacramento Bee, Thanks @SacBee

Friday, September 9th

Sacramento

7:30 p.m. – Diverse Americans Unite – Japanese, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist  Americans – presents a memorial at The Buddhist Church of Florin, 7235 Pritchard  Road. At 8 p.m., participants will ring a Buddhist gong and conduct a  candlelight ceremony.  A map can be found here.

Saturday, September 10th

• West Sacramento

Noon – A 9/11 Memorial Flag Tribute with nearly 3,000 small flags  representing lives lost on Sept. 11 is at Jefferson Boulevard and South River Road. The display continues through sundown Sunday.  A map is here.

Sunday, September 11th

• Colfax

8:46 a.m. – The Kiwanis Club of Greater Colfax presents Reading of Names  Memorial Service behind the Historic Freight Depot, 1-4 Main St.  Twitter @Kiwanis  The map is at this link.

• Dixon

4 p.m. – Dixon Fire Department unveils a 9/11 Memorial featuring steel from  the World Trade Center at 205 Ford Way.  Here is your map.

• Rancho  Cordova

The California Capital Airshow (details in my post here) presents a tribute with a memorial flower  drop, concluding with a Missing Man formation at Mather Airport, 10510  Superfortress Ave. A ticket to the air show is required. The cost is $15 for  general admission.  Twitter @calcapairshow  The map is here.

• Roseville

Noon – St. John’s Episcopal Church holds a remembrance at 2351 Pleasant Grove  Blvd. A special memorial flag with names of victims hangs in the narthex.  Twitter @StJohnsEpisCh  A map is at this link.

• Sacramento

5:30 a.m. – A remembrance vigil and reading of names of the men and women who  died in the attacks begins at the west steps of the Capitol. There will be a  moment of silence at 5:46 a.m. Immediately following, the crowd will be ushered  into one of the three memorial sites on the Capitol grounds.  A map for the Capitol is here.

8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Nor Cal Tea Party Patriots, KTKZ and Fox 40 News  presents a memorial remembrance at Cal  Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. A free pancake  breakfast for first responders, military members and their families is from  7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. At 9:07 a.m., a bell will be rung and a moment of silence  will be observed.  Your map is here.

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento presents  “Decade of Remembrance” at the east steps of the Capitol.  A map is here.

Visit the Permanent 9/11 Memorial on the grounds of Cal Expo.  See my post on the Memorial here.

The Cal Expo website is here.  Maps, directions etc plus pages on all of the Cal Expo “stuff” including the 9/11 Memorial.  Here is a map as well.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee.  All rights reserved.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/07/3889457/911-memorial-events-in-the-sacramento.html#ixzz1XV3KEQ6t

The Sacramento Memorial 9/11 Run & Walk

Online registration is closed but walk-in registration is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (September 9-11, 2011).  More info is here.  The course map & directions are here.

Folsom

Folsom Lake College,  A Gift of The Heart, Homeland concert.  Click here for a map.

Here is a list of 9/11 events across the country

Voices of September 11th has a listing of memorial events.

Watching television may overwhelm many of you this weekend, sometimes the reporters seem so stupid.  I know they are trying, but I’m just saying…..I had to turn the TV off for a while this morning and it’s only Friday.

So, if you feel a bit heavy-hearted get together with a smaller group at one of these events or just with your family.    If you have a motorcycle, ride.

Visit your local Fire Station or Police Station.  Take some cookies or flowers or just say “Thank you”.

Professional Firefighter Remembrances, Statewide

Firefighters in California are hosting 9/11 remembrances and activities throughout the state.

Please look at the list here.

Remembering is important but healing is even more important.

Fly your flag proudly and remember those firefighters, police officers and servicemen/women who dedicate  their lives to protect us each and every day.

Never forget.

Update September 12th:  @Sacbee has  nice article about the various Sacramento 9/11 observances.  At least 300 people attended the Remembrance Spectacular at Cal Expo.   The Cal Expo event included  3,014 pairs of shoes donated by Sacramentans to honor the  victims of 9/11. The shoes will go to the Salvation Army

Firefighte4rs, police and veterans observed the bell ringing in Capitol Park at 5:46 am PST (8:46 EST) designating the time the first plane hit the WTC.

Many churches noted increased attendance for their Sunday services.

Related articles

• Five Ways To Remember 9/11 In Sacramento (now100fm.radio.com)
• Five Ways To Remember 9/11 In Sacramento (ksfm.radio.com)
• List of September 11th Events Planned Locally (contracostafirefighters.wordpress.com)
• 9/11 Unity Event in Sacramento (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
• 9/11 Memorial Guide – National September 11 Memorial & Museum (itunes.apple.com)