On the few "Speechless" Sundays I have done, I find that they are never Speachless. I realize I'm defeating the purpose but........
I saw this in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow Long Island New York recently. As the day approaches every year and we see the calling of the names of all the people lost to us on 9/11, I find it a disgrace that after all these years nothing has been accomplished on that site.
It is "Prime Office Space" is what I've heard. "Valuable Land" is another. Yet I've also heard that no one wants to rent it. It was allegedly offered to Donald Trump who wouldn't take it if they gave it to him...Nothing, he said, will flourish on that site. I have to say I believe he is right.
They proposed some stunning annoucements of true Memorials and Parks which to date have never been built. Yes, I know, we are in a recession but we weren't back in 2001 or many of the years that followed. Over three thousand people perished on this site of Sacred Ground and there is nothing to show for it. There is no place for families and friends to go and reconnect.
No pretty flowers or beach scenes today--just a wake up call for New York to help all the victims left behind from that horrendous day.
*Carole Provenzale is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York providing Feng Shui and Design Consultations for Homes, Businesses and Corporations.
It really is a shame Carole that nothing has been done. As the title states though... WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER!
Thank you for the picture AND the words. I had not heard about the Donald Trump offer. Life is sacred...and the senseless killing...well, I just cannot imagine that daily reminder if I lived near the site of the twin towers. Anytime I see 9-11...on a calendar, a clock (9:11) or an "in case of emergency call 9-1-1" sign...it is a reminder.
It seems as those left behind ... are truly left behind. And that's inexcusable.
Carole, you wrote:
"Over three thousand people perished on this site of Sacred Ground and there is nothing to show for it."
I beg to differ. That the site is still empty shows the utmost respect for our fallen countrymen. I have no problem with a memorial of some kind, but the site itself is a profound reminder. We WILL never forget.
I have mixed feelings on this.. I can really see both points of view. It is important that we do not "cover up" what happened.. so people will be remembered. On the other hand, it would be great to have a memorial along with the "rebirth" of the site to show the resilience of the American people.
Carole, I got chills while reading this post. I moved away from NYC in August of 2001, just one month before 9/11. I have been back several times and I have never been able to bring myself to visit ground zero. In my heart, I remember it the way it was. I can't bring myself to see what happened to it.
I think a memorial in this space would be very appropriate. And the fact that it is "prime NYC real estate" that is not being used to build up as much commercial SF as possible, would mean even more.
Hi Carole-It is definitely sad that nothing has been done in 8 yrs. It must be even sadder for the families. We must never FORGET. Have a great week. :-)
You're right, Carole, it is a disgrace that they haven't done anything yet. I absolutely think they should make a memorial park - better to do something that people will actually visit than a building that won't rent whether from emotion or recession.
Carole--We will never forget...Every time my digital clock in the car or on my phone hits 9:11, I think of September 11, 2001. I often wonder how many other American's think and feel and remember everytime they see those three digits as I do. We will never forget but New Yorker's CANNOT forget as they have a constant reminder in the middle of their city! Some memorials take time as it is important to get it right...It may take years but I believe that eventually there will be a fitting memorial created...But I know we Americans will never forget!
Carole..I will never forget..but how about our grandchildren and their children..
HELPFULHANNAH
Bill, Seeing this and being so close to the day...so sad they've done nothing.
Sonja, I agree with you, I think many of us are the same way. A client of mine who was in the City that day tells me every time he glances at the clock it says 9/11. He does not go into NYC anymore which is also sad.
Carol, I feel the same way. There is no where for them to go after all these years.
Gayle, The site is fenced off and you are not allowed near it. It also has huge cranes and other equipment but there is nothing being done. You cannot see anything and you can't get near it because they have stopped building the proposed office buildings and they've done nothing. It's a sad site, I will post pictures of it in another blog. I meant that the families and friends have nowhere to go to reconnect with their loved ones.
Joan, I should have been clearer which I was in the comment above. You can see the tops of cranes after all these years but you can't get near it for the construction they are supposed to be doing. It's inexcusable to have nothing for the families to honor their loved ones.
Maggie, It took me three years to go there and has become, sadly, one of the most visited sites in NYC now. They need to have a memorial of some kind--it's unbelievable that we are not honoring these people who were lost. I'm sure you're grateful you weren't there.
Pat, I'm sure it is sadder for the families. It's completely blocked off and they open a section each year to they can read the names...then it's closed up again. No memorial still......
Kathy, I am not happy about a lot of things in NY lately. This is definitely way up on my list.
Teri, I do understand that. Then they need a place for people to gather....And work has all but stopped on the site. The proposal has been there but they haven't done anything in how long?
Hannah, Hopefully we will teach them. I'm sorry about the world children are growing up in now, how very different from when I was young.
When we visited NYC in December of 07 we went to ground zero. Our bus tour guide directed us to the church across the street for a more "heartfelt" memorial, as he said there was "not much to see" at the actual site, except a hole in the ground. I can understand from a Feng Shui pesrpective why you would feel that nothing can flourish there, but I struggle with the desire to turn sites where a tragedy has occurred into a somber memorial site. I cannot speak with conviction about this, as I have never lost anyone in a tragic way, but I don't know that I would want to return to publicly mourn or honor my loved one, and though others might want to visit to understand the loss, it doesn't seem that a somber memorial is the best way to imform. I, too, have seen some of the renderings of proposals and it seems that there may never be consensus on what should be installed as there are so many varying opinions on how the space should be reclaimed, reinvented and revived. This is definitely a project that has far reaching implications, and long term effects, whatever is decided.
Update: I've come back after several more comments, the butterfly garden is a wonderful idea, as it is not somber, but still memorial in nature, and does not speak to commercial ventures, i.e. the cost of building some of the proposed structures or turning it back over to business/retail space.
My neighbors sister has been visiting quite a bit lately and she is from Manhattan. We have had this discussion ALOT lately! There really needs to be something done - and soon!
We can never forget. As time passes the pain fades for those not directly effected and they don't have the same fears that we all had in 2001. It is dangerous to forget. Many still suffer the effects of exposure to the toxins and many are growing up without parents, living without partners, and missing their children and friends lost that day.
NYC needs to get a move on and do Something Quicker. They seem to be going backwards sometimes.
Carole,
A park teaming with wildflowers, especially poppies and flowers that attract butterflies, would be beautiful. They could also have a gate with memorial plaques of all of the people who died there on the walls of the gate....much like the Menin Gate and Flander's Fields in Belgium where my GR Gr Gr Uncle Tom Smith was amongst the thousands to perish in the war and who's bodies were never found.
It really is a cemetary site and no matter the value of it commercially, there comes a time where other things besides money should take precidence.
Jo
I like the wildflower park idea, too. Or at least some kind of natural haven in the middle of the city where people could go to remember the people who died there, but without the city spending lots more money on plans and designs that never get off the ground.
Thanks for the post, Carole!
Robin
I was still living on Long Island that fateful day and I lost a friend in the tragedy.
I too find it disgraceful that nothing has been done on that site.
Forget corporate greed by building offices there. Turn it into a memorial park and let those who are willing to remember what happened go there to reflect and give thanks for the freedoms our country affords us.
Carole, It seems nearly impossible that we are coming up to the 8th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11. Where does time go? But, for the families, friends and acquaintances of those 3000 lives lost that day, time may be at a standstill, due to sadness and grief. We must always remember. Thanks for your non speechless post...you speak volumes with your wisdom.
Cheryl, I have been to the tiny church and it is a miracle it survived. But it is not enough. Ihave to say that I do think a park where people can sit and reflect or bring their children would be something to honor those we've lost and keep the memory of that day alive for generations to come.
I don't care how big it is but in the last eight long years there is still nothing there. Work that was started was stopped. Every year they open it just long enough to read the names and the service is shown on TV. Then again it is over. I've been watching this year after year and I honestly find it disgraceful. Many people need a place to go and there is no cemetary they can visit.
Leesa, I don't believe they will now with the budget the way it is....they won't even keep the lights on which is unfortunate.
Paddy, Many of the first responders are still suffering and their healthcare has been exhausted. I don't like the decisions being made for New York. Now all the schools will remain open no matter how bad the epidemic becomes of the Swine Flu---I wonder what they are thinking sometimes.
Jo, I am with you, they should be honored...each and every one of them. If they don't have the money to add names they could put in a small park. They could leave the beautiful blue lights up throughout the year. The could by this time have done something.
Robin, Good point, they don't need to spend millions but they do need to put in some place for people to go when they feel the need. Families and friends still hurt--we ALL do. And I'm SURE the City could find a way to make money off the park to keep it up.
Craig, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. We need a place to honor him and everyone else that perished that day. And we still have nothing after all these years.
Sandy, I am passionate about New York. All the wonderful things it has to offer that some people aren't aware of. This has been an issue with me as the years go by....we had a terrible wrong and have done nothing to make it right again.
I went to Ground Zero a few years ago and was reduced to tears at the magnitude of the loss of human life. It was so tragic and un-necessary. surely something can be done...
I'm really surprised at this. I thought something had already been done to commemorate the tragic event.
Betina, I, too, was crying. At the unbelievable loss of life and the fact that aside from some cranes on that site, nothing has been done. It was overwhelming to me.
Georgina, They started to do something, plans were approved. But years ago the work stopped and it remains just a hole in the ground. How very sad for New York and the Country.