NYC, Jersey City July 25

July 31, 2022

NYC 9/11

Spent a few days in an RV park in Jersey City, NJ right across the Hudson River from NYC. Blocks from the PATH station, 15 minutes to the base of the rebuilt World Trade Center campus.

Nice shot of the southern NYC skyline, One World Trade tall building on the left.

Lady Liberty as seen from our ferry to Ellis Island.

The PATH exits in a place called the Oculus, an ultra modern transportation hub for 12 subways plus the PATH. Beautiful place, retail, dining, clean, places to sit/relax, serves a million people a week.

For some reason I felt I was in a "Men in Black" movie.

Exterior shot of the Oculus

This is a pic of The Apple Store in the Oculus. Must have been 40-50 floor staff at a pre-opening briefing when I went by. Huge store. Then later I noticed that there is another Apple store on the second floor right above the first floor one; you cannot be serious. Must be doing some business.

9-11 Museum

This was my first visit to the 9-11 Museum; first up were two films "Facing Crisis: America Under Attack", then "The Hunt For Osama bin Laden". Both films very professional, very moving, educational, glad I saw them.

The main body of the museum exhibits are below ground level, addressed every facet before, during and after the 9-11 attack. The coverage is incredibly extensive, even including pictures/bios on all the victims, voice mails to/from stranded victims and also (behind a privacy barrier) a small nook where images of people jumping to their death were shown and talked about (could not watch much of that).

Remains of famous FDNY Ladder Company 3, members part of the 343 firefighters that perished in the crisis.

The "Last Column", 36' high steel plated column, the last standing column of the South Tower after collapse. Decorated, signed and noted by many, honoring/remembering lost loved ones.

Apologies if you can't read this; haven't mastered the photography yet.

Finally one of the two waterfall/reflecting pools honoring the 9-11 victims. Hopefully you can hear this.

Ellis Island

Next stop, Ellis Island National Immigration Museum, gateway for 12 million immigrants from 1890-1950. Also known as The Island of Hope, Island of Tears, as some were turned away for medical and other reasons.

Extensive renovation began 1984, completed 1990, cost $156 million; quite a tribute to this immigrant nation's gateway. Also called a poetic symbol of the American Dream.

The Registry Room, where immigrants await their fate, questioning, medical testing, etc.

History of our Immigration Laws, might be too tough to read. However, most recent is the Act of 1965, below.

The nation is crying out for comprehensive immigration reform. Yes to border protection, yes to some kind of universal ID to keep track of everyone. However, IMHO, the strength of our nation has been built from the acceptance and diversity of immigrants seeking a new and better life for themselves and their families. And with twice as many job openings as people available to work, now is the time to rise above party politics and pass meaningful, common sense legislation.

They had a number of tributes to different country immigrants and different skill sets. Above a tribute to the Polish people. Below, a tribute to the number of nurses that have come from the Philippines.