"Always Remember"

Yesterday was a big day! I saw more of New York yesterday than all up so far by taking a 3 hour cruise around Manhattan Island. There is about 120 photos of New York from the water on my facebook and I could honestly have taken about 10 times that many but figured I wouldn't remember what most of it was anyway! The tour guide on the boat had written a book about New York's history so we got a lot more than just "thats the Empire State Building" - we got the full story behind the competition between Empire State and Chrysler to be the biggest, we saw the memorial to a dead bankrupt president and the Medieval Musuem lodged up on a hill.

He explained the construction of every one of the 20 bridges around the island, every old building and the fortresses that were originally installed to protect New York. It was a really good tour and it really helped to understand this place in more detail - only making me love it more of course!

After that I caught up with Charlie from Red Cross and he took me down to Ground Zero. I didn't take any photos, it just didn't feel right to glorify the scene. Right now, it is heavily under construction, all of the footings are almost complete for the new Freedom Tower. Before I get into the nuts and bolts of the 9/11 story from Charlie, there were a couple of other cool things I had learned about Ground Zero. The US Navy is about to commission a new ship, built using the steel from the World Trade Center towers - "On September 11 2001, our nation's enemies brought their fight to New York. The USS New York will now bring the fight to our nation's enemies well into the future." I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute to the fallen than to reconstruct our great losses, which can never be replaced, into a battle ship that stands for the freedom of the American (and indeed Western democratic) people.

As we parked on the North East corner of the WTC site, Charlie started recounting his day for me. Starting 20 minutes after he dropped his kids off at school, to the call as Deputy Fire Chief about the collapse. On arrival at the scene he was charged with establishing the medical team and areas. The North West Corner, by the Marriott was the chosen site to begin with. Moments after starting up he heard what he thought was a car bomb, little could be seen through the dust, at that point the buildings began to collapse. The Marriott fell around he and his buddies. Trapped for what seemed like an eternity but was only 20 minutes, they struggled out of the rubble and sea of bodies carrying as many others as they could. He went on to tell me that the collapse of the second tower was so powerful the remainder of his team were blasted across the road and through the plate glass windows of the World Financial Centre. Another struggle ensued to escape the wreckage and rubble, sharing breathing equipment with other fire fighters to get through. It took him more than hour to struggle 80 feet across the atrium of the financial centre and out the other side. Desperate, with eyes burning and every car and fire truck near by in flames, Charlie made it to the deli across the road. We stood there looking at the place through the window as he described getting in and pouring water, soda, anything all over his face heal the pain of his burning eyes and so he could see again. At that point a voice calls to him "Are you Charlie?" he looks down and sees a photo journalist he had known for 20 years, the guy had been dragged there after the first evacuation, with a broken leg. Charlie and a buddy then took him down to the pier, where everyone in Manhattan was heading to jump on the rows and rows of boats moving people from New York to New Jersey.

We walked down to the pier and saw the memorial. It is low key, which is appropriate, but all the same it is beautiful. We then talked about him losing his brother in law, a fellow fire fighter and hundreds of his colleagues. His brother in law was found on New Years Day, on the previous evening his two sons (Charlie's nephews) had graduated the Fire Academy to become fire fighters themselves.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind me recounting the tale, although I have missed a lot of the detail, I think you can get the picture about how much 9/11 is still so real for so many New Yorkers. Hearing the story standing in the World Financial Center looking out over the site is an experience I will never forget, or more fittingly, to use the motto on the posters all around New York - Always Remember.

By this stage we needed a beer. We went for a short drive up to McSorley's ale house - one of the oldest ale houses in New York and largely in original condition. Built in 1854, it features just two beers, light or dark, and is complete with sawdust on the floor. After a couple beers we moved on to Virgils BBQ, for some American style BBQ ribs and burgers before calling it a night.

Yesterday was definitely my favourite day in New York so far, the afternoon was beautiful, the evening very moving. I've got an FDNY pin on my lanyard now, I'll wear that with pride and respect.

Today is a much quieter day, not a lot left that I desperately want to do. I'm off to see Spring Awakening again from on-stage seats this time. Tommorrow morning I catch up with Professor Barry Goldsmith - a professor of comedy, no less, and good friend of Veronica from work. In the afternoon I head on out of Manhattan to the hotel I am staying at overnight to catch a plane to Chicago early Friday morning.

I'm coming home - almost with a sense of reluctance - people were right, New York really is me. Despite that, I miss you all and can't wait to be home to see you again.

Adam