As the summer season nears its peak many will hike the Appalachian Trail, a footpath which extends 2,180 miles along the Appalachian Mountain range between Georgia and Maine. A worn guidebook to the trail once belonging to New York City firefighter R. Bruce Van Hine is now on view in the memorial exhibition, In Memoriam, at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Van Hine, who died on 9/11, responded to the World Trade Center with FDNY Squad 41. His helmet was recovered near the South Tower where he is believed to have been when it collapsed.

An avid outdoorsman, Van Hine spent years day-hiking segments of the tri-state portion of the Appalachian Trail. In addition to a trail guidebook, Van Hine, a religious man, often carried Bibles with him. He left them for fellow hikers in shelters located along the trail.

Bruce Van Hine on the Appalachian Trail. September 2001. Gift of the Van Hine Family.

 Van Hine was also deeply devoted to his wife Ann and their two daughters.

When his wife, Ann Clarke Van Hine, came to the Museum offices to donate his treasured trail guide, she told curators, "One of the things that he always wanted to do was sleep on the trail. And he did that two weeks before September 11."

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist, 9/11 Memorial 

This Friday, as part of the Stories & Art education program, the 9/11 Memorial Museum welcomes a special guest to read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and to discuss its parallels to the story of 9/11, specifically the story of the Survivor Tree.

Centered on a boy and a tree, the story of “The Giving Tree” shows how strong love can be, even during the darkest times.

Guest reader, Ron Vega, the 9/11 Memorial Senior Director of Design and Construction, was a survivor of 9/11 and a key figure in the recovery and ongoing care for the Survivor Tree.

“This book has many great themes that relate to the story of 9/11 and more broadly to the symbolism of trees in our society,” said Vega. “I have always been a fan of this book and with my background, this is a great way for me to engage with a young audience.”

“The Giving Tree” Stories & Art program is offered on July 17 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Education Center. Each participating group will receive a complimentary copy of the book. The program is limited to 30 guests per program and reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting.

By Claire Gallo, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

Tickets are now available on NewYork.com for the official 9/11 Memorial Guided Tour, which also includes admission to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

The 9/11 Memorial began offering guided tours of the Memorial in April. These tours allow visitors to explore the symbolism behind its design, the historical significance of the World Trade Center and what happened on 9/11. The 45-minute tour includes a walk through of the memorial plaza with an experienced tour guide retelling what happened on 9/11 and the stories of those who were lost.

“Our focus is twofold; primarily we want to honor the lives of the thousands of victims, while simultaneously providing the historical context of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” said 9/11 Memorial tour guide Aleksandr Ustin. “With discussing how these horrific attacks unfolded more than 13 years ago, it’s vital that we not forget that those individuals here that morning were everyday people like you and I – sharing unique personalities, common interest and hobbies.”

The official 9/11 Memorial Tour is offered starting at 11:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. 

By Claire Gallo, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

Britain observed a moment of silence today, marking the 10th anniversary of the London terror bombings that killed 52 people and injured hundreds.

On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers linked to al-Qaeda detonated explosives aboard three London Underground trains across the city and on a bus.

Londoners joined together on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. to reflect on the anniversary in a moment of silence. According to the New York Times, commemorations on Tuesday included a wreath laying ceremony at the Hyde Park Memorial and a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral. 

By 9/11 Memorial Staff