Adding a piece of history in my album

This was a tough, emotional page to create.

It's an incredible tribute that means so much to many people,

including myself.
I didn't know what to expect when visiting this site, but just

being there was overwhelming emotionally. 

Even if there wasn't a "formal tribute setting",

if ground zero was still a hole in the ground,

it would've have still been emotionally overwhelming.

That's how powerful it is.
It was an amazing, emotional, and surreal experience.

As I sat down the other night to create this page I became
caught in the emotions from the memorial and then thought
 how do I create a page that will honor, respect, revere 
this memorial that represents such a horrific

part of our American history.

I used my words and a couple of the photos from the 

911 Memorial article that I had written for hubpages. 

It describes the memorial, emotions,
and pride I had as I soaked it all in.

Journaling:

Amidst the cement and mortar, cranes and tarps is a peaceful, calm carved out in a place where one the most horrific attacks on America took place, killing 3,000 Americans in 2001. 

Another day in American History that will live in infamy.

Since the site is still under construction and as the towers arise from the ashes, you will see there are tarps and cranes everywhere. We had just missed seeing the installation of the floor on World Trade One that marks its milestone of surpassing the Empire State Building. The new tower is beautifully magnificent, and on our cabbie’s informed say-so found that the entire building has already been rented out. The American spirit lives on. And you can’t help but feel proud.

As you step around the fencing, there is a sense of calm even with all the people mingling around. We gravitated immediately to the south pool. As you approach, all you hear is the sound of nature, and as you close in on the pool, you begin to hear the cascading water. Around the pool is a railing, with the names of the fallen. It’s awe- inspiring and simultaneously tragic. 

There are two pools, north and south, each set in the footprint of the two buildings that were hit by the planes. The names are sorted out by which plane hit what building, and there are electronic directories set up at various sites, if you want to find where a specific name is located. Also included are the names of the fallen from the Pentagon and first responders; inscribed into the railing of the south pool.

Tributes have been placed here and there; people honoring friends and loved ones. And you can’t help but trace the inscribed names as you stand at the pools, even if you didn’t know them. As an American I felt a sense of camaraderie and respect for their bravery and pain that made the memorial real and surreal simultaneously. I also found myself wondering if I could or would be that brave in the face of horrific circumstances. 

The acoustics at this site were perfectly engineered in which nature plays a role in the soundproofing. Plans show that eventually there will be a total of 400 swamp white oak trees planted as well as grass, making the site lush and green. Granite seating is available throughout for meditation and rest.

As people mingle around and pay their respects, you can feel the prayers rising, and as you step away from the pools, the sound of the cascading waters recedes, and there is a hushed quiet of respect. 

As the construction continues and the towers arise, it shows that America continues to stand tall.