9/11 Memorial

By: Jared Mabanglo Life. Do people care about this precious gift that we have? As I ponder over this question, I stare blankly at the two huge fountains that lie before me, while listening to the calming splash of the glistening water cascading down the walls. How could this happen to so many innocent people? I think in my head. I stare up at the gray, cloudy sky above, and immediately a lonely feeling surrounds me. How could someone do something so terrible like this? Why, why, why? I think of all of this, while a stare at where the North Tower used to be. Are we almost to the front of the line? my brother asks. Almost there honey, my mom replied, just be patient. Today, we are visiting the 9/11 Memorial in New York. Im so excited! Weve had a great time in New York so far. Weve gone to the Empire State Building, the Stature of Liberty, and Now the 9/11 Memorial! Ive been researching it and looking at pictures of it online, but Ive always wanted to see it in real life. Weve been waiting in line for about 30 minutes now, and were finally starting to get close to the security checkpoint. I look up, and see a sign that says, NO PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT. When I saw that sign, I immediately put away our camera, being the one holding it, and continued to wait excitedly. Forty-five minutes later, I heard a lady ask, Ticket Please. Here you go, my mom answered as she handed over our four tickets. The lady scanned them, handed them back, and then said, Thank you. Head over to Checkpoint 1 and follow the instructions the man gives you. We finally entered the security checkpoint room, and noticed that it was just like an airport. We had to take off our shoes, watches, belts, phones, and everything else that contained metal. Then, we had to put them into a plastic basket. While they scanned our belongings, we went through the body scanner. Everything moved as smoothly as clockwork. We collected our belongings, and walked right out, while as another group of people simultaneously walked in. After that, there was barely a line, if there was one, and it was smooth sailing straight to the memorial area. We were guided down a path by a continuous 10-foot metal fence. It had huge blue posters on them so that we could not see what was behind them. Arrows lead us in the right direction down the extensive path. Along the way, we got our tickets scanned two more times. Then right in front of the entrance, a man in a blue polo shirt collected our tickets. We finally made it. At the second we entered, I notice that the memorial was very quiet. All you could hear was the constant pitter-patter of the water in the fountains, and the distant murmur of people talking. People with sad, serious faces stood silently. I look towards the magnificent fountains, and see swarms of people gathering around the huge elongated plaques in the edges of the fountains, looking and searching endlessly among the thousands of names

for their loved ones name again. When they get to touch the letters carefully engraved into the metal, it brings them back to that horrible day when their lives were changed forever. We grab a map from the box marked English, and we all start to carefully observe all of the details of this beautiful memorial. There are newly planted trees precisely located in a pattern that covers the entire memorial. Grey squares of cement span across the ground, with a hint of newly planted grass scattered about. There are benches all around the memorial, and a huge cluster of giant cubes to sit on were in the main courtyard. The two fountains lie diagonal of each other, with the names of all the people that passed away lining each and every border. All of this, the trees, the fountains, and the memorial itself lies in the shadow of the new World Trade Center. I look up to the cloudy sky, and a sad, lonely feeling automatically engulfs me. I wonder in my head, How could this happen to so many innocent people? I stare at the enormous World Trade Center, shooting through the clouds so magnificently. Thats when I realized why there were so many fences surrounding the memorial. Its because of all of the construction thats going on! All of that rubble from the North and South Towers used to be right where Im standing! All of these new buildings were rising up from where all of the chaos happened 12 years ago. Its amazing what humans can accomplish in such a shor amount of time. Then I look down and remember all of these people whose lives ended that day. Now I realize how big of a number 2,996 really is. After that realization, I continued to look at those names engraved in the metal, but with a different point of view. I saw then, that life is so fragile, and it can change in an instant. How could someone be so evil and terrible! They ruined the lives of so many people! Even theirs! I cant believe it until now! I started to walk over to a nearby bench to sit down, but then I noticed that there was a huge group of people surrounding one location. Mom, I asked, do you know what those people are staring at? I really did wonder what it was, because it wasnt in a central location, and it really wasnt that big. No, do you want to go check it out? my mom replied. Sure, why not? I answered. We headed over towards the group of people. Once we finally got past the crowd, I noticed that it was just a tree! I was so surprised! Why did everybody want to see that tree? But I did realize that there was something different about this tree that set it apart from the rest of the trees around it. First off, it was in a strange location, which did not follow the same pattern set by the rest of the trees. Second, it was a different type of tree, because the leaves were completely different. Next, there was a three-foot metal fence around it, and there were lots of wire supports that held the tree to the ground. Along with that, the majority of the trees bark was gone. We checked our maps, and saw that there was a little tree icon right where we were standing. It was the Survivor Tree. I stood in awe as I stared at one of the very few things that survived that ghastly day. I noticed that the tree did look very old. It had dark green leaves, and no bark on the majority of its trunk. I was so amazed that at that time, the tree was just a twig, only 8 feet tall, and when they found it, it was very burned, and only had one branch

still alive! Even though only one branch lived, I was surprised that that tree still survived. We took some pictures of that amazing tree, (who would think you would take pictures of a tree) and continued to stare in awe. It really shows how many amazing things can happen! We continued to observe the names and reflect on what happened that dreadful day. As we strolled around both the North and South pools, I thought about all of those families that lost a family member that day. I felt pity and sympathy for them, because their family member just went to work on an ordinary day, and then suddenly, their gone. I would be devastated if that ever happened to me. I now realize that life is so fragile and precious. One day youre here, the next day youre not. I really do appreciate and cherish my life now more than ever before. I learned that I should express my love for my family members every day, and say, I love you as much as possible, because one day they could be here, and then the next day they could be gone. You never know what can happen in this world were living in. I also learned that I should live my life one day at a time, and not overwhelm myself by thinking too much about the future. Also, if you experience a tragedy, stumble, fall, or make a mistake in short, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on! Always learn from your mistakes. A great example of this is what happened to New York on 9/11. They got back up, learned form their mistake, and continued on. Now, the state is back on its feet, and is doing just fine! So remember, always appreciate your life, learn from your mistakes, and move on. All of these valuable lessons, from one tragedy: September 11, 2001.