The Ground Zero national September 11 memorial and museum in downtown Manhattan continues to serve as a place of remembrance 25 years after the terrorist attacks. The memorial, which took a decade to complete, consists of two dark granite basins on the footprints of the original towers, with water cascading from their lips.
The names of all 2,977 individuals who died as a result of four aircraft hijackings are inscribed on bronze panels around the basins. An inscription, cast in 15-inch letters from the steel of the twin towers, reads: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time,” quoting from The Aeneid.
Last week, visitors from across the US and around the world gathered at the memorial. A security guard noted that the atmosphere becomes more solemn around this time of year. Many visitors expressed feeling compelled to pay their respects, with some describing their visit as a pilgrimage.