9/11 Tribute Lights & The Empty Sky Memorial.

I always find it incredibly moving every time we go to Jersey city and stand on the Hudson waterfront to watch the tribute lights light up on 9/11. We normally go to the city and stay in the financial district to go to the freedom tower but for the past couple of years we have been going to the Empty sky memorial where they honor those from NY/NY who lost their lives in the towers. Such a beautiful tribute and memorial and coming here never gets old. NYC on September 11th or any other given day never gets old. We are so grateful to live in a place where we are so close to drive to the city and pay our respects to those whose lives were lost. Such a special place to go and feel their spirit. It's truly amazing and the feeling I felt while standing against the rail overlooking the Hudson River staring at the lights pretending the twin towers were still standing brings back so many memories. Happy ones. Even when it rains that doesn't stop anyone from going to pay their respects to remember. 

This is the second year in a row where it has rained and the rain this year formed two lovely rainbows earlier that evening. I know that those twin rainbows were a sign from the souls letting us know that they are at peace and thankful that for the last 22 years, we have not forgotten them. 

We Remember....

It was a rainy day on a Sunday afternoon when we drove to jersey city to pay our respects and reflect on those who lost their lives on September 11th, 21 years ago. Going to the Empty Sky memorial is always a somber space where we see people setting up flowers and ribbons on the name space of their loved ones. There was even one woman who caught my eye and after taking her picture expressed my sorrow to her in regards to her loved one. She seemed strong but could see that there were tears about to stream down her face as she was placing the ribbon on his name. 

Even 21 years later we remember. And still shed tears. I didn't even know these humans who lost their lives and yet my kids and I still mourn and grieve for them. Knowing that we live so close to ground zero and having come all the time to pay our respects since we moved to the east is a humbling feeling. We didn't make it to the world trade center memorial this year, but we are Jersey folk and this is our second year going to Empty Sky on September 11th. And it truly was a bittersweet feeling. Here's a little video from last year to reflect....

Empty Sky.

 

It was a sunday morning on February 7th when we got a notification that in person church was cancelled due to the snow. Jon and I were like, "well... it's not that bad but hey, if church is cancelled the we'll watch it on zoom and then go for a drive later in which we did. The snow doesn't bother us and in all honesty it wasn't that bad. We have been through worst snowstorms than this and thank goodness for having a UPS driver who knows how to maneuver through it all! We just meant to go for a short drive and then ended up at Liberty state park where the Empty sky memorial is. I'd never been here and was so happy that we stumbled upon it! There were no crowds. Just us and the snow quietly falling from the sky. It was so beautiful that the cold didn't bother us. I captured this shot of Noah walking through the monument and then we quickly read the words that are engraved on the Empty Sky...

"On the morning of September 11th, 2001, with the skies so clear that the Twin Towers across the river appeared to be within reach, the very essence of what our country stands for – freedom, tolerance and the pursuit of happiness – was attacked. This memorial is dedicated to New Jersey’s 749 innocent loved ones who were violently and senselessly murdered that day at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA. Let this memorial reflect the legacies of those whose lives were lost, that their unfulfilled dreams and hopes may result in a better future for society. Their unique qualities and characteristics enriched our lives immeasurably and through this memorial, their stories live on."

It truly is a beautiful monument and plan to go again in the fall!