Staff photographer Amy Dreher snaps a lot of pictures at the World Trade Center site, documenting the construction progress. 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.

WTC aglow:  The 9/11 Memorial, which has had more than 4.6 million visitors since Sept. 12, 2011, is illuminated as One World Trade Center looms in the distance.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

The MEMO blog introduces the dedicated people working at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  Whether serving as a visitor services host, security guard or facilities manager, each member of the memorial team assures a meaningful, safe and memorable experience for the millions of visitors coming to the World Trade Center to pay their respects.

John Wilkes, a Battery Park City native who lives in New Jersey, recently became a member of the visitor services host team. On the morning of 9/11, Wilkes, a high school student at the time, left his home near the World Trade Center to go to class. Like thousands of others that day, his mother was set to work at the World Trade Center that morning but she called in sick. After the attacks, the Wilkes family was forced to find shelter, as their home became completely covered with asbestos from the debris of the fallen towers. 

Wilkes joined the 9/11 Memorial because he “really wanted to help in any way I could.”

Today, memorial visitors can meet Wilkes at the entrance or on the plaza of the memorial, answering questions or leading youth discussions on conduct at the memorial.

The college graduate said he likes being part of a team working for a private nonprofit with an important mission.

“The people I work with...they all really want to work here and help out.  It’s great to be around such great people.”

By Allyson Philobos, Communications Associate for the 9/11 Memorial

Downtown Minneapolis, Minn., has honored war veterans with a “Twin Cities Heroes Parade.” The parade honoring post-9/11 veterans was on July 28, The Star Tribune reported.

The parade was a first for Minneapolis and a successful one at that- drawing hundreds of visitors. The proceeds were to be donated to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, according to the newspaper. 

To see pictures of service members and war veterans being honored at the 9/11 Memorial, visit our Google + page.

By Allyson Philobos, Communications Associate for the 9/11 Memorial 

The MEMO blog introduces the dedicated people working at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  Whether serving as a visitor services host, security guard or facilities manager, each member of the memorial team assures a meaningful, safe and memorable experience for the millions of visitors coming to the World Trade Center to pay their respects.

Lucie Iuzzolino, born in the Bronx and raised in Rockland County, N.Y., recently joined the 9/11 Memorial team as a visitor services host. On September 11, 2001, Iuzzolino was a junior at the University of Scranton when she heard news of the World Trade Center attacks just before her first morning class.  Like many other Americans that day, she recalls she did not initially recognize the magnitude of the attack and was stunned to find out that the towers had collapsed.

“I had known New York my whole life, and I had stood at the foot of those colossal structures,” Iuzzolino said.

She instantly thought of her father, who had been doing electrical work in the World Trade Center. After spending most of the day fearing for his safety, she finally heard from him and learned he fled Manhattan on foot over the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.  Iuzzolino spent the rest of the night among her classmates, holding a candlelight prayer vigil on campus.

Today, visitors to the memorial can meet Iuzzolino on the 9/11 Memorial plaza, answering questions about the memorial and helping visitors learn about the arrangement of the names.

“When working at the 9/11 Memorial, I am reminded that the human spirit is tremendously resilient,” Iuzzolino said.

When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Iuzzolino responded, “Being a part of the healing process.”

By Allyson Philobos, Communications Associate for the 9/11 Memorial

Jenna Moonan, the 9/11 Memorial group reservations manager, recently sat down with the MEMO blog to answer some frequently asked questions about bringing a group to the memorial.

Q: How can I make a group reservation?

A: If you’d like to schedule a visit for a group of 16 people or more, our group reservations associates are available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist you with the process. You can speak with an associate over the phone by calling 212-266-5200. If you prefer to make arrangements by email, you can send a reservation request to groups@911memorial.org. To get the process started right away, you should include the following information in your email: desired visit date and time, total number of people in your group, your contact information, and whether or not the group will be dropped off on a bus, as bus drop-off is scheduled.

Q: I’m planning on taking a group to the Memorial in the fall. When should I start planning?

A: Group visits can be scheduled up to six months in advance. We’ve already started booking groups for visits in 2013. Passes are limited, so we highly recommend planning your visit as far in advance as possible.  

Q: What is the easiest way to get my group to the 9/11 Memorial?

A: The simplest way for a group to travel downtown would be to take the subway. The 9/11 Memorial is located at the convergence of 11 subway lines. You can find a complete list of lines with stops just blocks from the entry here.

Another great option is to take a ferry or boat ride to one of the nearby docks. The 9/11 Memorial entry is a short distance from the piers at Battery Park, the World Financial Center and the South Street Seaport, servicing groups from midtown, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey. There’s no better place to snap a photo of the Manhattan skyline than from the river, so I recommend groups take advantage of these options that allow you to sightsee in transit. The memorial’s Official Transportation Partners even let groups reserve their free Memorial passes when they schedule their rides.

If your group chooses to travel by bus, be sure to let your group reservations associate know this in advance. Bus drop-off and pick-up is scheduled as part of your reservation.

Q: What if the time and date preferred is not available?

A: We strive to accommodate as many groups as possible on a daily basis, but space is limited. I recommend having a couple alternative dates and times your group can visit when you contact an associate to schedule a group visit. If you have only a narrow timeframe for a visit, we’ll add your group to a wait list and be in touch if passes become available due to cancellations.

Q: How can I educate my group about 9/11 before our visit?

A: The 9/11 Memorial Commemorative Guide is a great resource for background information about the World Trade Center, the 9/11 attacks and the 9/11 Memorial. Your reservation confirmation email will include a link to the Commemorative Guide.

In addition, the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s education team has developed resources for all ages to learn about 9/11.  Educators can access lesson plans for kindergarten through 12th grade and find suggested activities in our downloadable Pre-Visit Materials for the Classroom.

I also encourage everyone to visit names.911memorial.org to learn about the arrangement of names, the very heart of the memorial’s design. 

Q: Where do I pick up my group’s passes?

A: You’ll pick up your passes when you arrive with your group, which should be approximately 15 minutes prior to your scheduled entry time. When you arrive, go to Group Check-In at Trinity Pl. and Thames St.  A 9/11 Memorial host will greet your group, confirm the reservation, and handout your visitor passes.  

Q: Is there a charge to visit the 9/11 Memorial?

A: Visitor passes to the 9/11 Memorial are always free. As a nonprofit organization, the 9/11 Memorial does receive contributions from many of our visiting groups, for which we are always grateful. Contributions are dedicated to developing and sustaining the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff