On September 11, 2001, Port Authority Police Department Lt. David Lim was in the basement below the World Trade Center's South Tower with his K-9 partner Sirius when he felt the building violently tremble. Feeling duty-bound to assist potentially injured civilians, Lim took time to secure Sirius in his kennel and then went to investigate the disruption, telling his partner, "I'll be back for you."

After miraculously surviving the collapse of the North Tower, Lim's first instinct was to find Sirius, but he was rushed into an ambulance and brought to St. Vincent's Hospital for treatment of injuries he had sustained from the collapse. Unfortunately, Sirius was not as lucky as Lim. His remains, recovered in the winter of 2002 in the wreckage of the South Tower, were ceremoniously removed from Ground Zero with a full honor guard, in a manner befitting a hard-working member of the PAPD.

Recently, Lim donated items in memory of Sirius to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, including a training leash and one of Sirius' badges. Additionally, he gifted the soiled boots and gun belt that he had worn on September 11, 2001 as vestiges of his remarkable survivor story. To view more items in the museum's collection click here.

Items donated to the museum by Lim, including a training leash and one of Sirius' badges.

Soiled boots worn by Lim on 9/11, recently gifted to the museum by Lim.

Kim Wright, the director of marketing and reservations for the 9/11 Memorial, recently sat down with the MEMO blog to answer some frequently asked questions about visiting the memorial.

Q: Why are timed passes needed to visit the 9/11 Memorial?A: When you visit, you’ll see that construction continues at the World Trade Center site.  During this interim period in which the 9/11 Memorial’s visitor capacity is affected by surrounding construction projects, the temporary timed reservation system will help reduce potential wait times and ensure as many people as possible are able to visit.  We simply want to ensure that the visitor experience is safe and meaningful. The response has been remarkable. We have had more than 500,000 visitors in about two months.  

Q: Is there a charge for the passes?A: Passes to the memorial are free, but we need your help to ensure this sacred place is preserved for generations to come. When making an online reservation, consider making a donation with your reservation. You can also make an in-person donation at our Visitor Center upon exiting the memorial. Contributions are dedicated to developing and sustaining the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Q: How should visitors get passes to the 9/11 Memorial?A: Reserving passes to the 9/11 Memorial is simple. Just visit 911memorial.org/visit, choose the date and time you’d like to visit, and select the number of people who are coming.  Fill in a few pieces of information, including the names of those visiting, and confirm.  We’ll email passes directly to you or you can choose to pick up the passes at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site located just a few blocks away from the memorial.  

Q: What if the time and date needed is not available?A: We regularly release passes online, so if your preferred date and time is not currently available, check back the afternoon before or the day you’d like to visit. We do, however, strongly recommend that you reserve passes as far in advance as possible to ensure you are able to visit when you’d like.  A limited number of passes for same-day visits are also available daily on a first-come, first-served basis at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site at 20 Vesey St. (at Church Street) beginning at 9 a.m., the NYC & Co. kiosk at City Hall and the NY Water Taxi booth at the South Street Seaport.

Q: What would you say to visitors who are unable to travel to the Memorial?A:  Through thoughtful innovations, we’ve developed other ways for people to experience the 9/11 Memorial and honor the people who were lost.  You can download the Memorial Guide and Explore 9/11 apps (both are free), explore content on the Make History website or browse the resources on our website including photo galleries, interactive timelines and more.  Our EarthCam webcam even gives you live views of the memorial 24/7, and you can always connect with the Memorial via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Q: Any insider tips for MEMO readers?A: The 9/11 Memorial is meant to be experienced at all times of the day, so don’t discount those later availabilities.  In my opinion, the memorial can be at its most beautiful in the evening.   

For more answers to your questions about visiting the 9/11 Memorial, see our FAQ.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Our partners at Project Rebirth are working to raise awareness about the importance of first responders and crisis management in communities and have recently released a new public service announcement.

The organization stems from the feature-length documentary “Rebirth.” From early 2002 through 2009, the film chronicled the lives of five people directly affected by 9/11 and simultaneously tracks – via multi-camera time-lapse photography – the evolution of the former World Trade Center and the rebuilding of the site.

Get information about organizing a community screening of “Rebirth” at projectrebirth.org.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

The National September 11 Memorial has been honored with a nomination as one of Travel + Leisure’s best new landmarks in the world. Vote for this national place of remembrance as your favorite new park or public space.

Vote in Travel + Leisure’s Best New Landmarks Survey.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Thanks to everyone who voted in Bow Tie Cause's "Best of BowTies" Facebook Challenge, Ken Rosenthal will rock the 9/11 Memorial REUNITE bowtie tonight during Game 1 of the World Series on FOX Sports.

As you watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers, be sure to look at Rosenthal's neckwear.  He will wear a bowtie of a different charity during each game - all to raise awareness for worthy organizations through Dhani Jones' Bow Tie Cause.

Get your own 9/11 Memorial bowtie here.  Proceeds benefit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  And congratulations to @glasshoppers7, who won a bowtie for helping us spread the word on Twitter.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Throughout the 2011 Major League Baseball season, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal has rocked 25 different Bow Tie Cause bowties raising awareness for various charities, including the 9/11 Memorial. See the 9/11 Memorial bowtie featured on FOX Sports here.

By "liking" the 9/11 Memorial REUNITE bowtie on Facebook between now and Oct. 18, you could help the design win and be worn by Rosenthal during the MLB 2011 World Series. Your votes can raise awareness of the Memorial and its mission to remember and honor the victims of 9/11.

Get your own 9/11 Memorial bowtie at bowtiecause.org, or win one by helping us spread the word. One lucky tweeter will win! Here’s the tweet: Like the #911MemorialBowtie on @bowtiecause's Facebook page> http://ow.ly/6WrNx RT to possibly win your own!  Winner will be announced on Oct. 19.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

The 9/11 Memorial, a lasting tribute to the Sept. 11 victims and heroes that opens in September, will have nearly 3,000 names inscribed in bronze around two enormous reflecting pools at the World Trade Center site. 

Visit names.911memorial.org to explore the unique names arrangement at a website called the Memorial Guide.  

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

As individuals and businesses around the world look towards the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, many are asking what they can do and finding their own unique ways to support the Memorial. 

New York’s SoulCycle is one of those businesses.  SoulCycle’s Tribeca studios at 103 Warren St. in lower Manhattan invites our supporters to participate in a powerful 45-minute tribute ride on Sept. 6, 2011.

Interested riders can email soulcycle@911memorial.org.

Those outside of New York can find more opportunities to support the Memorial here.  All contributions are dedicated to developing and sustaining the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to build a lasting place for remembrance, reflection and learning for years to come.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Staff photographer Amy Dreher snaps a lot of pictures at the World Trade Center site, documenting the construction progress of the 9/11 Memorial. Amy also trains her lens on the smaller pieces that may be overlooked with a project of this magnitude. Through “The Lens: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial,” readers of The MEMO blog can share some of the unique vantage points captured by Amy.

Illumination: Lights in the south pool glow at the 9/11 Memorial, framed by the museum's pavilion and a grove of trees.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff