9/11 MEMORIAL NYC

The story of my Mother's family in the U.S.A. started in NYC Just before WWII. NYC had always been for us the soul of the states where many immigrants come to create a better nation as the Perla's had been doing since we came to the U.S.A.

9/11 was a traumatic event for all of us, we saw the city that welcomed the family attacked by an evil force. I was in the twin towers a year early on September 2000 just viewing the architecture. I remember a man who was very friendly that worked in the towers that helped me to get to the elevators so I can see the city from the top of the building. I will never know if he survived or not, I hope he did.

In 2009 I went to see the beginning of the reconstruction of the site. On February 18th 2013 I went to see the memorial. I came with my wife and I realized that this was the battle site of a war that still continues and we do not know when it will end. I came with my wife a person that went twice to Afghanistan in order to bring justice for what was done. Also people like my brother who also became part of the U.S. Air Force in order to protect this nation. I saw a lot of people going to war and some did not come back. The site feels like a place for hope where the nation is been rebuild and where the diverse spirit of this nation will grow stronger. It is also a sad place because years after this terrible day you can still see pictures all over the area of the people and the heroes that die; which bring tears when you see how many were taken away from their families. I am thankful for the fire fighters that serve us by rescuing others and from the men/women that serve in our military.

Now it's time to bring the troops home and end these wars.....in honor of peace there are many ways to end conflicts that does not required weapons. Lets say more books, more libraries, more Urban Sketching and we will save this world ;)

The Memorial is a beautiful peaceful area full of trees and full of hope. There is a lot of construction going on around it and most likely the entire project will be done in 7 years from now. The tower symbolizes the beginning of a new era and the spirit of a nation that still keeps going which will always be under construction/changing/developing/advancing towards greatness.

I was bless to sketch the memorial with the tower under construction because it will show a stage in the project that many will not see when everything is complete. It was a very very very very cold afternoon and to get there you need to go to several security check points just like an airport. I got question for what I was doing but the security was more friendly towards me than people with cameras. They did not bug me as much they actually love the work that I was doing that several tourist took pics of me. It took me 4.5 hours in the cold but I got used to it. Just drink a lot of hot coffee. I used black ink and a lot of hand warmers ;)