9/11 10th Anniversary

September 11, 2011 commemorated the 10^th anniversary of one of the most deadliest attacks on US soil.  Two planes hijacked by terrorists flew into the World Trade Center in New York City.  A third hijacked plane was flown into the Pentagon.  United flight 93 was hijacked and crashed in   Pennsylvania on its way to destroy the White House. 

At our September meeting, CAR Members participated in a special program about the events of 9-11.  They watched a very interesting video excerpt from the History Channel where we learned about the construction and plans for the new World Trade Center site.  http://www.history.com/videos/911-timeline#911-timeline

The Reflecting Absence Pools are set within the footprints of the original twin towers and are the largest manmade water falls in the US.  The names of all the victims and first responders are engraved around the    edges.  On 9/11, hundreds of people attended the memorial service in New York City where each name was read.   It was very moving to watch on TV.

The Survivor Tree, a pear tree originally planted in the 1970’s, was found in the ruins with no branches standing only 8 feet tall.  It was rescued and now stands 35 feet tall.  It acts as a special memory for the first responders who today also bear the scars of this epic tragedy. 

                                                            
The soaring 1 World Trade Center and 4 WTC are rising by about one floor per week.   Trees have been planted in plaza.  A spacious memorial is to open on the 10th anniversary of the attack next Sunday, September 11th. The two Reflecting Absence Pools are scheduled to be filled by then.  The 9/11 Museum is scheduled to open in one year on September 11, 2012.  The hoped for reconstruction of Towers 2 and 3, will be initially limited to foundations and lower levels. Earliest completion for Tower 3 is 2015; there is no timetable for Tower 2.  A full rebuilding of the site is still several years away.