Yesterday, I trekked through the cold New York City weather to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum for the first time. The experience was both emotional and impactful for me. In order to fully explain the events that unfolded that day, there are remnants of the tragedy displayed throughout the exhibition – from physical components of the actual buildings to found personal belongings. You will also hear various stories, told through the perspective of victims, witnesses and survivors. For me, this was one of the saddest parts of the museum.
There was also a recording booth exhibition that was very touching. As part of the project, visitors are invited into small, private rooms in order to recount and record their personal stories. Some of the stories are then projected onto a wall for others to see.
I decided I wanted to give it a try and headed into the booth. Inside, I saw a chair and a screen. My prompt was the following:
“Tell us your 9/11 story.”
This is what I said:
“I was nine years old when the 9/11 attacks occurred. I remember seeing smoke rise from the New York City skyline through the window of my third grade classroom. Shortly after, an announcement was made over the PA system, which prompted my teacher to head over to the window to pull down the blinds.
Although I was young at the time, I had a gut feeling that something was not right. During the rest of the school day, parents arrived to pick up their children. One by one, all the students went home.
I was the last one left in my classroom.
I waited until the end of the school day before my mom finally came to pick me up. Instantly, I felt a wave of relief flood through body. My mom was okay.
Afterwards, we headed home together, where I found the rest of my family watching TV, staring at an image of the Twin Towers engulfed in smoke and fire. I was fixated on the T.V. I could not force myself to look away.
To this day, I still remember that exact image in my head. It's crystal clear. It never erased from my memory.”
