I have been thinking a lot about the people and items within the folders handed out to us on Saturday. The victim assigned to our team was Robert King Jr. He was a firefighter, father of three and a woodworker. (Born the same year as me.) The task at hand –regardless of the final destination of our work– feels weighty. The families are entrusting important memories to us. I don’t want to seem overly dramatic here. Yet when you look at the folder and the materials one mother took the time to assemble, it makes you stop for a moment.
I like the personal nature of the 9/11 Living Memorial. It reminds you that there are thousands of stories to be told about 9/11. And as Mary mentioned in her talk, it’s not just the families of the victims. The survivors’ stories should be documented as well. The gentleman mentioned by Mary who felt compelled to carry around a parachute in case of future attacks was particularly startling.
I would guess that as you get deeper into this project, some of the shock goes away, but for the time being it continues to be top of mind.
