Morning Spirits

I like to visit the Memorial early in the morning as the sun is rising, glinting off the Bell and Trumpet, and illuminating the Maltese cross, the symbols of our trade. The eternal flame flickers at the base of the memorial as you walk up the brick path treading on the names of those that have supported the endeavor to put forth a memorial so that None Are Forgotten. I know where I am going, my destination is two plaques this morning, one from 1993 and one from 2001 it is the same two plaques I always visit when I take a walk to the memorial. There are some here who can tell you every name on each and every plaque but many of us only go to those that we know. There are actually 2 plaques for 2001, because the loss of life at the WTC was so great that there was no exception but to include those names on a separate plaque.

This morning, the air was cold in the bright sun as I walked through the opening in the wall to get to the flame and names; a stiff breeze drove the chill past my coat and into my body as if each spirit there was running towards me and into my heart. Time seems to stand still as you survey all the names and at times you can hear the soft whisper of names on the wind as you read them off the plaques. Stopping briefly at each of my two stops, I prayed for their families and reminded them that we will never forget them.

Rest quietly my brothers.