The most solemn exhibit in the Bush Center Museum is the exhibit on 9/11. As you walk into the 9/11 exhibit you first see the 22 ft high, 1.85 tons pulverized twin steel beams from the World Trade Center. The piece of the towers is know as a C-11 panel and is believed to be from one of the upper floors of one of the towers. The piece of the tower is not an artifact, but a memorial, so visitors can touch it if they so choose. As I was watching the visitors walk by the towering piece of mangled metal, some would touch it, and look as if they needed to touch it to make it all real to them. Other visitors looked as if they couldn't touch it, like it was a sacred piece of history they needed to let rest.
 |
| The Mangled Twin Tower Beams. In Presidents Bush's address to the nation he said, "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." |
The beams are surrounded by the names of all the victims, of all three attack locations, engraved on the walls, also surrounding the beams are six video screens that show real footage of the attack as the events were happening. There are videos of "The Today Show" from that morning as the reporters were seeing what the nation was seeing in real time. They also show the footage of the plane going into the Pentagon from security camera footage taken from across the street.
 |
| Behind the beams you see visitors watching the videos or reading the victims names. |
Next in the exhibit is a section where you can sit and watch video of the 10 days after 9/11. These videos include the speech at Ground Zero by President Bush on a bullhorn (the actual bullhorn is also on display), and the joint secession of Congress. You can see the video of the President getting the news of the attack while visiting a school in Sarasota, Florida. The video is very somber and riveting. You may need tissues, I know I did.
 |
| This was the section of the video when President Bush addressed the nation on Sept 11, 2001. In the video he is finishing his address saying, " This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. Thank you. Good night, and God bless America." |
There is a display of letters of condolences from world leaders, and from school children throughout the world. Displayed are the handwritten notes that President Bush took on a white legal pad at the school in Florida. Also included is the fleece jacket the President wore when he threw out the first pitch at Game 3 of the World Series.
 |
| A note of condolences from the, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand. |
One of the most touching items on display is the badge of the killed Port Authority Officer George Howard. This badge was given to President Bush by Officer Howard's mother, and President Bush carried the badge with him throughout his presidency.
 |
| This is the badge of Port Authority Officer George Howard. |
No one can ever fully understand how this day affected President Bush, he was sworn into office on January 20, 2001 and just 8 months into his Presidency he was faced with the worst terrorist attack our country has ever experienced. In my personal opinion in the days immediately following the attack he was strong when he needed to be, and comforting not only to the victims of this tragedy, but to all Americans that were scared and suffering. Being the President of this country is a hard enough job without having to deal with such a life altering event. The 9/11 attacks were game changers for all of us in this country. All of our lives changed, and in effect so did the lives of many people across the world.
Look for Part 3 of this series coming soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment