Lizzie and Scott

I was last in NYC back in 2013. Back then, I visited Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center ("Twin Towers") attack on 9 September 2001. Back then, the museum that exists now was still under construction, but the two memorial pools that now stand where the towers used to were open. Then, it was an incredibly solemn place, heavy with emotion and reflection from the thousands of visitors each day.

I am pleased to say that this has not changed, save for the fact the museum has been completed and is open for business.

Lizzie and I caught the subway downtown to visit the memorial and museum, and found ourselves inside a building called The Oculus. We were reliably informed by our previous tour guides that this building has been designed so that at 10:28 am (the precise time the second tower, the North Tower, collapsed, leaving the NYC skyline forever changed) on 9 September every year, the sun aligns perfectly with the opening in the roof to send a beam of light into the mall inside!
The external design of the building is supposed to represent a dove, the international symbol of peace, being released from a child's hands.

From here, we entered the museum as we had a reservation for the earliest time slot. A word to the wise, if you are going to visit the museum, go early. It took us about 90 minutes to go through but when we came out it was getting quite busy!

The museum entrance is at ground level, near the two memorial pools, but you quickly find yourself underground and, as it turns out, looking at the very foundations that the two towers of the original World Trade Center were built on. This in itself is quite surreal, but then to be faced with countless artefacts from that day, and the subsequent rescue/recover mission, not to mention photos of each and every one of the 2,977 people killed became quite an emotional experience.

There are areas of the museum that you are not permitted to take photographs. This is enforced to respect the dead, as well as their families. The last thing I wanted to do, standing in a room faced with 3000 faces looking back at me, was to take a photo!
Back outside, we visited the Survivor Tree. A cute little pear tree that was found, scarred but alive, in the wreckage of the WTC during the cleanup. This tree was nursed back to health, and now stands back on the hallowed ground as a testament to the resilience of New Yorkers.
Now I'm going to pause by narrative for a little bit to tell you a story of a true American hero. That's not to say that he was the only hero of 9/11, but his story is so remarkable that I believe it deserves a special mention.

Please meet Richard "Rick" Cyril Rescorla.
You will note the uniform - this is the uniform of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) made famous by the book and subsequent movie, "We Were Soldiers" (the book is called "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young"). Rick was a platoon leader (rank of Lieutenant) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore when they were sent in to Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam to engage with the North Vietnamese Army. The book is a riveting read, and the movie does a good job of capturing the emotions of the battle, which lasted three days.

Here is a photo of Rick during that battle, taken by Joe Galloway who co-authored the book with Hal Moore.
Now, Rick was known to be absolutely fearless, and highly respected by his men. But what struck me most about this man is the extent he went to to keep his subordinates calm under extreme stress. Despite being hopelessly outnumbered by the attacking NVA soldiers, Rick was known to walk around the platoon lines and sing to his men to keep their spirits up. His chosen song - the Australian version of "Wild Colonial Boy". This is despite the injuries he himself received under fire. I want you to remember this little fact about him - I'll come back to it.

Rick retired from the US Army in 1990, having been awarded Vietnam War honors including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Purple Heart and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and rising to the rank of Colonel.

After military life, Rick went to work as a corporate security specialist working in the World Trade Center. He predicted the 1993 terrorist bombing of the WTC and wrote a report to authorities warning of the attack which went ignored. He continued to specialise in security and was still working in this role on the 44th floor in the South Tower on the morning of 9/11 when the first aircraft struck the North Tower at about 8:46 am.

Rick, recognising the imminent danger, began evacuating his staff. He lead an estimated 2,700 employees of the company he worked for to safety, despite the WTC PA system advising all people to remain at their desks. It is also documented that Rick lead several groups of people down the 44 flights of stairs, all the while singing to them to keep them calm (see above).

He made several trips in to and out of the building and was told several times by colleagues to evacuate himself. He refused every time, saying that he would not stop until everyone was out of the building. He was last seen on the 10th floor of the South Tower, heading upward to find more people to lead out. The South Tower collapsed moments later, claiming Rick's life.

Today, Rick's name is engraved on the memorial wall of the South Tower. He has a serene resting place with a beautiful view of 1 World Trade Center which was built to replace the Twin Towers. Taller than the original towers, this building stands as a message to the terrorists of the world - you can knock us down, but we will come back taller and stronger!
RIP to all of the victims of 9/11, and may their families find some peace, somehow.

That's enough of the sombre tone - let's move along!

As we were so far downtown, Lizzie and I decided to visit the firehouse that was used as the Ghostbusters HQ for the 1984 movie. Whilst wandering the streets, we came across a little diner. Lizzie had always wanted to eat in an authentic American diner, so we gave it a shot.
To be honest, the food wasn't that great, but it was a fun experience.

Then it was on to the firehouse! Just after we arrived, I heard a firetruck coming down the road with sirens blaring. It turned in to the street where the firehouse was, and then proceeded to reverse and park in the firehouse - I'm guessing there must have been a hot meal on the table for them!
Moving along, Lizzie had the grand idea of walking the High Line. This is an old abandoned elevated rail line on the west side of Manhattan that runs for a little over 2 Km and has been transformed in to parkland and walking trail. Along the way, we found a floating park called Little Island. We left the High Line to explore this neat little area, that is very green and well kept.
Adjacent to this little paradise, we found the old rusted remains of a pier gate. You can still (just) make out the words "White Star Line" on the gate overhead. Does this ring any bells???

Of course, the White Star Line was the company that operated the SS Titanic when she struck and iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage to New York! This was the very pier where the Titanic was scheduled to dock, and the very pier where many of Titanic's survivors were delivered by the rescuing ships such as the Carpathia. We were once again standing smack bang in the middle of history!
Then it was back on the High Line to continue our walk north. Along the way, we saw an old friend keeping watch again!
We also spotted an observation platform called The Edge, which apparently has a glass floor! No thanks!!!
At the north end of the High Line, we reached this rather unique structure called The Vessel - I can't quite work out whether I like it or hate it! It is certainly different, and like everywhere in NYC, covered in Christmas decorations.
Directly opposite The Vessel was the beautiful Hudson Yards Shopping Centre - this centre hosts some of the more upmarket stores and is DRIPPING in decorations!
And there we have it! We made our way home and although I can't remember what we did that night, I am absolutely positive it involved Lizzie, a TV, and Hallmark movies!

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post!

More to follow!