Memorial
I have mixed feelings about memorials; I don't visit my dad's grave because I don't believe he's there and I never had any connection to him in that spot.
But I remember as a child at the Vietnam Memorial, watching people cry at the wall. And the reverence at the spot of the underwater grave at Pearl Harbor. At the WWII memorial, I saw an elderly man in a veteran's hat, tears streaming down his face. Memorials might not help us remember, but I can see how they give us a place to collectively remember, to remind us we are not alone.
I wasn't sure I wanted to visit the 9/11 memorial. While there, I was struck by the names engraved in the stone: so many different nationalities and cultures, some with the phrase "and unborn child" after their name. The firefighters who gave their lives (and I believe the others who died that day had their lives taken from them, but the responders gave their lives trying to save others) are listed by company. Others are listed by location or job. It was difficult to visit, to remember all the sadness that we have experienced since that day, but I'm glad I went. It's a very simple, yet beautiful memorial.
I took more photos with my camera, but here are a few cell phone shots.
But I remember as a child at the Vietnam Memorial, watching people cry at the wall. And the reverence at the spot of the underwater grave at Pearl Harbor. At the WWII memorial, I saw an elderly man in a veteran's hat, tears streaming down his face. Memorials might not help us remember, but I can see how they give us a place to collectively remember, to remind us we are not alone.
I wasn't sure I wanted to visit the 9/11 memorial. While there, I was struck by the names engraved in the stone: so many different nationalities and cultures, some with the phrase "and unborn child" after their name. The firefighters who gave their lives (and I believe the others who died that day had their lives taken from them, but the responders gave their lives trying to save others) are listed by company. Others are listed by location or job. It was difficult to visit, to remember all the sadness that we have experienced since that day, but I'm glad I went. It's a very simple, yet beautiful memorial.
I took more photos with my camera, but here are a few cell phone shots.
Comments
xo