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.

Proud card carrier: Bay Crane Operator Andrew "Andy" Calise holds up his 9/11 Memorial Preview Site discount card, and his old memorial glade cobblestone card. Because of Andy's donations to the 9/11 Memorial through the cobblestone campaign, he received the discount card.  It's great to know that the people helping to build the Memorial and Museum are also donors.

By Amy Dreher, Staff Photographer for the 9/11 Memorial

Come meet Jay Winuk,  co-founder of MyGoodDeed.org -- the nonprofit initiative leading the movement to transform 9/11 into an annually recognized National Day of Service -- at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site this Wednesday. The discussion will cover how volunteerism in the U.S. boomed after 9/11.

Hear his story:

6:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 8

Also attending will be Bill Keegan of H.E.A.R.T. 911, and a member of the New York Says Thank You Foundation. The three organizations and their leaders have met the challenge of service, response and relief, and crisis counseling across the country and the globe.

Learn more about the orgnaizations in the links below:

Due to limited space, it’s highly recommended that you RSVP online. A suggested donation of $10 per person will help support ongoing programming.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

Above: Veteran news anchor Shepard Smith introduces the latest installment of the Fox News series “The Rise of Freedom," which features 9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad.  In the broadcast, Arad discusses the signature 9/11 Memorial pools, which feature 30-foot waterfalls.  

Arad, a partner of Handel Architects, was working as an architect for the New York City Housing Authority when he entered and won the 9/11 Memorial design competition.

His design for the memorial, which is called “Reflecting Absence,” was picked by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in early 2004. Two years after winning the design contest, Arad was one of six recipients of the American Institute of Architect’s Young Architects Award.

The award honors architects license ten years or less and have shown “exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers.”

Updated: Read more about Arad in a recent article in the Downtown Express weekly.

By the 9/11 Memorial Staff

The "9/11, Today and Tomorrow" speaker series has returned  for another installment at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, 20 Vesey St. (Between Church Street and Broadway).

Join Jay Winuk of MyGoodDeed, Bill Keegan of H.E.A.R.T. 911, and a member of the New York Says Thank You Foundation for a discussion covering how volunteerism in the U.S. increased  after 9/11 and inspired President Obama to declare Sept. 11 a National Day of Service. The three organizations and their leaders have met the challenge of service, response and relief, and crisis counseling across the country and the globe.

Come hear their stories:

6:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 8

Due to limited space, it’s highly recommended that you RSVP online at national911memorial.org/rsvp. A suggested donation of $10 per person will help support ongoing programming.

Norm Dannen, Public Affairs Associate

Good Day NY interviews Ralph Gardner, a Wall Street Journal columnist, about his trip hangar 17 at JKF International Airport.  World Trade Center remnant steel, crushed emergency vehicles and other artifacts recovered from ground zero have been housed there since 2001. Some of the artifacts will be part of exhibits at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.  

Read Ralph's column, Urban Gardener, browse the Hangar photos from the WSJ article.  The steel beams have been sent across the country for use in local memorials. A batch of steel was relocated  to New Jersey in October.

By Norm Dannen, Public Affairs Associate 

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

The above video is from Fox News' "The Rise of Freedom" series documents Pennsylvania memorial that honors victims of 9/11 with steel beam from World Trade Center. Read more about WTC steel being used in memorials across the country on The MEMO.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

The above video is from Fox News' "The Rise of Freedom" series taking a look at what it takes to build America's tallest building - One World Trade Center.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

This flag is on a mission. Hands from across the nation will put their touch on the National 9/11 Flag.

On it's latest stop to Oak Cliff, Texas, students of Erik Jonsson Community School have taken time to care for the flag and remember that all American's, not just New Yorkers, were affected that day.

"I will always be an American," the fourth graders sang to a local community group according to a Dallas Morning News report. "And I will always cry American tears."

The 30-foot-by-20-foot U.S. flag, which was damaged in the collapse of the World Trade Center, is on a nationwide restoration tour. All 50 states will collaborate to stitch pieces of their own retired flag into the WTC fabric. The final flag will make its way back to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in time for the 10th anniversary. Read about one of the previous stops on the MEMO.

Jeff Parness, the flag's caretaker and founder of New York Says Thank You Foundation is committed to thanking Americans for the outpouring of support each year by sending New York volunteers to regions struck by disasters to help communities rebuild.

Future stops for the flag include Pearl Harbor and the Kentucky Dirby next spring. The Cowboys honored it just this past Oct. 25.

When the tour is over, the flag will arrive to the World Trade Center site and symbolize "what America is all about," Parness reiterated in the report .

So keep an eye out, the flag could be coming to a town near you.

By Norm Dannen, Public Affairs Associate for 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Sharp Electronics Corporation today announced the beginning of a technology partnership.  Sharp, in addition to providing future audio/video techonology support, has generously donated a new video installation at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site. The 13' x 7' video wall, comprised of nine Sharp LCD monitors, features animated renderings of the Memorial and an official "opening day counter."  Stop by the Preview Site to see for yourself!

By Norm Dannen, Public Affairs Associate

The 9/11 Memorial is opening on Sept. 11, 2011.

Help the 9/11 Memorial and Museum by sharing the unique gift of being part of history.  This holiday, sponsor a cobblestone on the plaza of the 9/11 Memorial on behalf of family, friends and colleagues and help pave the way to the memorial opening on the 10th anniversary. 

Cobblestones will line the paths of the 9/11 Memorial Plaza at the World Trade Center site – eight beautiful landscaped acres that will include two massive reflecting pools and more than 400 oak trees. 

Cobblestones can be sponsored for $100 (plaza cobblestones) or $500 (glade cobblestones, which are located in a beautiful clearing that will be used for special ceremonies and gatherings).

Out of respect for the victims of the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 attacks, cobblestones will not be inscribed with donor names. Electronic kiosks will be located on the plaza so donors can locate sponsored cobblestone.

Place your order by December 21st to receive your special holiday gift card.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff