This summer I have been given more practical knowledge and firsthand experience of security and law enforcement matters than any college-level course could provide. As the security intern, I have had the pleasure to work directly for Larry Mannion, the vice president of security, fire and life safety, and the directors of security operations at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. As a criminal justice and security major at Pace University, this opportunity has been invaluable to me as I connect and apply my knowledge from the classroom to the Memorial’s daily security operations.

The exceptionally qualified and connected people who make up the security team have provided me with hands-on experience from the point of view of a large private security provider, as well as from the perspective of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. It is inspiring to see the collaboration of these agencies along with the more than 300 employees of the Memorial dedicated to protecting and serving the site, which hosts thousands of visitors per day.

The staff has taken an active interest in my learning by encouraging me to challenge myself to be a critical thinker, increase my knowledge and improve my analytical perspective. My daily tasks as an intern include attending security related meetings, creating metrics for tracking security concerns, record maintenance and reviewing data for archiving.

During my time here, I received CPR and AED certification by the American Heart Association. I’ve also had the opportunity to observe the in-depth planning processes for high profile VIP and dignitary visits, such as Pope Francis, who will be visiting in September. I was present during several security meetings with the NYPD, PAPD, FBI, Secret Service and the 9/11 security team. It has been a privilege to witness these agencies interacting for the purposes of protecting these grounds.

I am so grateful for the experience I’ve had during my internship this summer, mostly because it has expanded my view of the world. There is no place with greater professionalism and integrity than the 9/11 Memorial and I am so honored to have been able to be a part of it.

By Georgia Bender, 9/11 Memorial Security Intern

Flying was a second career for Alfred Gilles Padre Joseph Marchand. Before becoming a United Airlines flight attendant, he served 21 years as a police officer for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, working his way up the ranks and retiring as a lieutenant. The 9/11 Memorial Museum curators installed the lieutenant’s cap and service pins he wore in the museum’s memorial exhibition.

The items were donated by his wife, Rebecca Marchand, who told museum curators, "He loved serving people, he was a real servant."

While still a police officer in late 2000, he clicked on a pop-up ad that said "become a flight attendant" while surfing the Internet. Drawn to the promise of travel, adventure, and an attractive benefits package, he accepted a position as a United Airlines flight attendant. Within weeks he started training and was up in the air for the first time in January 2001.
Marchand was based at Logan International Airport in Boston, Mass. He flew home to see his wife and their three sons in New Mexico as frequently as he could. His family supported the change, despite the long commute.

"He loved his job so much," his wife said, "He loved meeting different people. He loved his colleagues—and traveling. He just loved being on the go."

On the morning of September 11, 2001, after spending the weekend together in the Boston area, Marchand escorted his wife to her departure gate at Logan Airport, kissed her, and said, "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

His wife's last memory of him is watching him skip down the terminal to report for work on United Flight 175. Hours later, his hijacked flight crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

By Jenny Pachucki, 9/11 Memorial Content Strategist

Hot dog stands, food trucks and street cart vendors are all part of New York City’s vibrant landscape. In his photograph "Johnny Perna's Hot Dog Truck," Jonathan C. Hyman documents an old bus-turned-food-truck parked at a Staten Island bus stop. The food truck, painted with the Twin Towers, two silhouettes of first responders and an American flag in the background, is a mobile memorial to those killed in the 9/11 attacks. Listen to an audio clip below of Hyman discussing the reasons behind why he photographed this scene and explain the story of this unique memorial.

(Audio)

This photograph is on view in an exhibition titled Beyond Ground Zero: 9/11 and the American Landscape at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The photographs in this exhibition document improvised memorials that emerged in public and private spaces within days of the attacks, and continually for years thereafter.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

As a 9/11 Memorial Museum employee and a 9/11 family member, some of my most fulfilling moments have been watching visitors discover a connection to and a compassion for those affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. It is particularly special when in turn, visitors have inspired me with their stories of adversity. This happened recently when Michael Varisco, a young man battling a life-threatening illness, visited the memorial and museum with his family.

As a lover of history and food, 16-year-old Michael from Tampa Bay, Fla., wanted nothing more than a trip to New York City. The Varisco family’s visit to NYC and the museum was arranged through the Children’s Dream Fund, an organization focused on “fulfilling dreams for children ages three to 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.”

A 9/11 family member and Vice President of Community Engagement for the 9/11 Memorial, Anthony Gardner, created a unique experience for the Varisco family. Anthony and I, along with two volunteer docents who also have personal connections to 9/11, led the family in a private tour.

Anthony Palmeri, a Ground Zero recovery worker for the New York City Department of Sanitation, and New York City Fire Department Rescue 5 first responder Bill Spade both helped us make this visit exceptional. Meeting the Variscos was truly a wonderful experience. We all shared our personal 9/11 experiences, emphasizing how the story of 9/11, while tragic, is also about community and courage.  

A few days later, Gardner received an email from Michael’s father, Peter Varisco, stating, “Bill, Anthony, Katie and yourself made a deep impression on all of us…It was very moving and very appropriate for Michael in his own challenge for courage and perseverance. The whole experience reinforced our belief in people's goodness and in the spirit of our country and that ultimately God and goodness will triumph over evil. We can't thank you enough." 

We are so honored that the Variscos chose to spend their time in New York City with us at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It was an experience that will stay with each of us for many years to come.

By Katherine Courtien, 9/11 Memorial Museum Docent Program Manager

In October 2001, a Wall Street broker commissioned the painting of maple trees on his property in Newtown, Connecticut to create a living memorial to nine colleagues from the American Stock Exchange, and the son of another, killed at the World Trade Center. This mural has been documented by photographer Jonathan C. Hyman several times over the years. His 2003 rendition, “Flag Trees” is on view now at the 9/11 Memorial Museum as a part of the recently opened exhibition of Hyman’s work called Beyond Ground Zero: 9/11 and the American Landscape.

Listen to the artist recount his memories of taking this photo and explain the story behind this mural.

Explore other photographs in Hyman's collection.

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist

A father and his two sons, all of whom took part in the 9/11 rescue and recovery effort, returned together to the World Trade Center site on May 28, 2015 to attend a special ceremony held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum to mark the 13th anniversary of the end of the nine-month recovery effort.

Joe Bradley Sr., a longtime Local 15 operating engineer, took part in constructing the original World Trade Center. Following 9/11, Bradley worked on Ground Zero with his two sons, Joe Bradley Jr. and Jon Bradley, both also with Local 15.   

“People don’t realize what a family effort it was down there; fathers and sons working next to each other, moving that debris, searching the pile together,” Joe Bradley said.  

In May, 2002, Joe Bradley summarized the spirit of the recovery effort when he told the New York Times, “We came in as individuals. And we will walk out together.” His quote is on display in the Museum at Foundation Hall.

Joe Jr. and Jon Bradley had mixed feelings about returning to the World Trade Center site, but decided to return with their father for the ceremony. It was the first time both sons got to see their father’s words displayed in the Museum.

“Last time we were all down here together, we were running the machines,” Jon recalled.  

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist

On May 20, 2015, Museum curators installed the National 9/11 Flag in the south corridor of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

The 30-foot wide American flag originally hung on the façade of a building across from the World Trade Center site. Nearly a month after 9/11, construction superintendent Charlie Vitchers noticed the tattered flag while working on the pile at Ground Zero.  Concerned that the flag was becoming dirty and damaged, Vitchers asked ironworkers to take the flag down. Seven years later, Vitchers became involved with the New York Says Thank You Foundation, a charity established by Jeff Parness to pay forward the support New York City received after 9/11 by helping to rebuild other communities that suffered from disasters. In 2008, Vitchers took the flag with him to Greenberg, Kansas, a community that was impacted by a tornado.

While there, citizens began to restore the damaged flag by patching it with pieces of other damaged flags from their community, thus starting a national renovation project for the flag.

By the 10 year anniversary of September 11, the flag had traveled to all 50 states. In each state, threads or patches from decommissioned American flags were stitched into the flag. Carolyn Deters, Director of Administration at the New York Say Thank You Foundation, helped organize the stitching ceremonies. She remembers, “The love and respect the Honor Guard displayed, the moving tribute of the speakers, and the awe of the audience made it all worthwhile. Being able to help each stitcher and hear what this meant to them is an irreplaceable memory.”

Exactly one year ago, first responders joined representatives from New York Says Thank You Foundation in presenting the National 9/11 Flag to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in a ceremony on the Memorial plaza, officially marking the public opening of the Museum.

Chief Curator Jan Ramirez says, “We are thrilled to share with the public this wonderful symbol of national resilience exactly one year after it came into our care.” 

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist 

At its annual conference in Atlanta this week, the American Alliance of Museums recognized the 9/11 Memorial Museum with its highest award for exhibition achievement. Museum staff accepted the Excellence in Exhibition award, recognizing outstanding achievement in the exhibition format of the Museum’s interstitial spaces. 

In addition, from a field of more than 200 applicants, the Museum was awarded five MUSE Awards from the American Alliance of Museums Media and Technology Professional Network. These awards recognize outstanding achievement in the use of digital media to enhance the visitor experience and engage audiences.

The Museum received two silver awards: one in the Applications and APIs category for the Timescape and another in the interactive kiosks category for the signing steel interactive; as well as three honorable mentions for the audio alcoves in the historical exhibition, the Witnessing History audio guide tour and Reflecting on 9/11 and Recording Studio.

The Museum is extremely honored to be recognized by our colleagues for the efforts we expended to craft a meaningful and lasting visitor experience.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff