OK-NYC Bond Forged by Tragedy, Kept Through Prayer

OK-NYC Bond Forged by Tragedy, Kept Through Prayer

A plaque commemorating the 1995 terror bombing in Oklahoma City and the 2001 attacks in New York City is seen rising out of a brick walkway.
A plaque commemorating the 1995 terror bombing in Oklahoma City and the 2001 attacks in New York City. (Photo by Ron Vega)

The people of Oklahoma have known tragedy beyond their worst nightmares. Yet their faith is so strong nothing can break their spirit.

We have had the privilege of knowing a group who survived the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995 and they have been a source of strength and healing in our own struggles to make peace with our 9/11 tragedy in New York City. As we attended one other’s remembrance ceremonies over the years, we have formed a bond much like a family in closeness. We have cried together. We have companioned our sorrow.

When this latest tornado hit Oklahoma, my heart skipped as I worried about "my family" there. I would learn they were thankfully uninjured as they hunkered down in storm shelters.

Others were not as fortunate.My friends said, “The devastation is tremendous.

Entire blocks destroyed. It's about a 2 mile wide area. It was hit hard. So many died and some of them babies.”

When I asked what I could do to help, they said what they have always said: “Pray for us.” Some of us may diminish or undervalue the power of prayer. Some of us even shy away from saying the words “God bless you.” I have come to know that telling many Okies you will pray for them is considered the highest form of human kindness. So pray for them and let them know you are praying for them. And then, pray some more.

By Ronaldo Vega

Vega is the director of design and construction for the 9/11 Memorial

The Lens: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial

The Lens: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial

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The glade of the 9/11 Memorial. (Photo by Ron Vega)

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.

Greener grass: The beautiful glade of the 9/11 Memorial extends across the plaza beneath a row of oak trees. Ron Vega, a guest photographer on The Lens, snapped the picture this morning. 

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

 

the lens: viewing the 9/11 memorial

the lens: viewing the 9/11 memorial

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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.

Up all night:  The 9/11 Memorial's Ron Vega and Kim Cases recently reviewed plans for the planting of the first of 16 trees planned for the memorial's plaza. Vega, the director of design and construction, and Cases, the assistant project manager, have played this scenario out for months, even years.  The first trees have been successfully planted and are growing strong.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

Progress Report: Bronze panels inscribed with names of terror attack victims, memorial waterfalls

Progress Report: Bronze panels inscribed with names of terror attack victims, memorial waterfalls

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Donning a hard hat, blindingly bright safety vest and dark shades concealing his eyes, 9/11 Memorial Project manager Ron Vega scaled a section of the outside wall of the north pool of the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center construction site.

"Soon the plaza will come up to here," he said, making a chop motion at the height of his knees before adding, "And this is where the names will be located."

The current plaza of the memorial will be raised six feet, allowing future visitors to walk up and touch the bronze panels bearing names of the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 and 1993 terror attacks. The names are inscribed in such a way to allow light to shine through. The panels will rim the memorial, marking waterfalls that drop 30 feet into reflecting pools.

Over the past few months, progress has been steady on the memorial, which opens in the fall of next year. The two signature pools - both roughly an acre in size - are fully framed in steel. Much of the needed concrete has been poured and installation of the granite is underway. Hundreds of trees are being stored at a New Jersey nursery and will be planted at the site in the coming months.

Ron assess the progress and what work remains at the eight-acre site, which contains the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

"We are making leaps and bounds," he said.

In the coming months, more concrete will be added to the memorial plaza to raise it six feet, allowing future visitors to walk up to the edge of the pools and touch the bronze panels bearing the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 and 1993 terror attacks.

The plaza will serve as a green roof for the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which is taking shape seven stories beneath the memorial. The trees will be planted on the plaza in a suspended paving system that will contain soil and provide the foundation for a watering system.

Ron finished up for the day and headed back to the 9/11 Memorial headquarters nearby, where more work waited for him.  He walked off the 16-acre site that for years has been known as ground zero. Now it's a site being transformed into a national memorial and unique park space in lower Manhattan for the city's residents and visitors expected from around the world.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

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