avy

I think that it's okay to visit Ground Zero, I think treating it as a tourist attraction, and taking photographs with your family standing in front of the whole is very disrespectful. Going there to pay your respects is a very different story.

AC

Today marks the last working day. At *8PM, work on the clean up officially ends. there will be a solemn ceremonial ending with an empty flag draped strecher for all the unfound souls and the last standing girder will be cut down and escorted out on a flat bed truck. The area south of Canal Street will be closed to traffic, however all are invited to walk down to the area to watch. The official ceremony will be ten AM Thursday. Expect a large crowd. Families of lost souls are invited and must have a assigned case number to gain access to the area. A select group of dignataries and representatives of the uniformed services will also be invited to attend.
Enjoy the trip to NYC.

Michelle

Ellen and Tweedy... my hats off to you both. Very well said. That is and was exactly how I feel. It still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I see a plane flying low over the city. Maybe someday we'll (all NYers) be able to "deal" a little bit better. I crossed the 59th Street bridge a couple of times this weekend where you can get a good view of the whole skyline and still cannot get over the fact that those buildings are gone. I also came in through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (first time since 9/11) and the impact of the site is still so devastating and painful that it made me feel sick.

Ellen

Oh gosh,yes Michelle--the planes! Memorial day was the worst with all the military choppers overhead. I get absolutely faint whenever I hear them. That was one reason we left the city yesterday. I was one big knotted up mess. Headed out to the Rockaways. Our friends lost 3 members of their family on the Dominican Republic flight that crashed over there. Just when you think it can't get any worse....

Michelle

What's even "freakier" if you will, is the blimp that's patrolling over the Hudson and piers! As I sit here in my office right by Times Square (gulp), my window faces the Hudson and it catches my eye every so often. Very strange!

AC

Michelle:
The blimp is the FBI patrolling the ships for Fleet week. My understanding is that the cameras on board are able to read the print on a newspaper you might be reading while sitting on a park bench down below. really amazing!

REBUILD!

Speaking as an Englishman who has taken his family to the WTC 3 times and whose favourite city is NY I have three things to say about the WTCBR>
1 REBUILD
2 REBUILD
3 REBUILD

Don't let the B******S win !

dfdfg

some of these idiots who claim they are new yorkers are probably not from there anyway.it was a sad day for eveyone not just new york.new yorkers you are not the only americans here.let all of america grieve.remember there were more than just native new yorkers that died there.there were people from all over the world.its not the new york trade centers it was the world trade centers.

Thyra

We were just in NYC this past April, and instead of visiting Ground Zero, decided to take a sunset ride on the Statton Island Ferry. It was freezing! But seeing the altered skyline from the sea, with the sunset shining on the Statue of Liberty was about as emotional as I could stand... it really brought tears to my eyes, I couldn't imagine visiting the sight... I think if I saw someone doing something tacky.....well, I just couldn't see that happen.

Jesse

Like it or not the WTC site is a memorial. People in this country are frightened, because we have never had to live with terror of the unknown, when will and where will it occur next. I live in the suburbs, we lost three neigbors. Eight children that will grow up without knowing their fathers, Three wives who have nightmares of the terror of their beloved husbands deaths.

I was in Chicago on business on 9/11. They are still frightened, will we be next. I lost a brother-in-law. Three fellow employees that I had only met on business and talked on the telephone to. They drove me home. My teenage sons, who on a normal day might be hard pressed to tell me who called. All they wanted in the weeks after 9/11 was to know where there parents were, and to call if you were going to be late. This happened to everyone who carrys a USA passport.

For our Easter Vacation this year, we went to Hawaii. On the wall at Pearl Harbor on the Arizona Memorial is the name of an uncle who died before I was born. My brother was named after him. He is missing in action and presumed dead in Viet-Nam. Some day I hope to go to Viet-nam and visit a place called Nui-Lon. My son is named after him and now talks of entering a military academy after high school.

The Hawaians will tell you there was a lot of controversy about all the cemeteries. As Americans we have always been taught to honor our dead, Gettysburg, the Alamo, Kennedys' and Roosevelts grave sites, Arlington.

All American mourned the death of civilians at work.

I received in the mail today an invitation to my 30th high school reunion. Out of a class of 578 students, ll died at the WTC. I took out my senior yearbook and cried associating the name with the pictures.
Under 2 photos for ambition - to carry on the tradition of family fireman. One who was also voted most likely succeed - his life's ambition to do well and to do no harm doing well.