Iris

In pictures: The 9/11 Memorial

Kohi Marri
Updated 18 Aug, 2016 02:39pm
The World Trade Center Memorial
The World Trade Center Memorial

Spending most of the day to experience the most heartbreaking event in the history of the city; surrounded by tourists busy collecting selfies in every corner of the memorial, journalists observing and making notes on every little aspect of the day. Then there were the people who came to pay respects to and remember the loved ones lost 14 years ago.

The atmosphere was intense: tears welling up, loved ones and firemen walking together, looking for their friends’ names on the memorial. There was an impromptu march and tribute by the fire department. There were speeches and the band played songs to honour the fallen.

This is the place where it all started, the loss of innocent lives at an epic scale. Starting the domino effect that would cause the loss of life halfway across the world, at an even greater scale. With no clear end in sight, it continues to escalate. The innocent will continue to suffer, caught between the extremists and the soldiers.

These pictures depict the wound created over a decade ago, a wound that has changed the world forever. They not only show the pain and loss for the people of New York, they echo the pain and loss throughout the world. We are all caught in the ripples of the act that shook New York to its core.

Firemen console each other as a speech remembering their brethren is delivered
Firemen console each other as a speech remembering their brethren is delivered
Memorial lights, one for each tower
Memorial lights, one for each tower
A message in chalk left on the road
A message in chalk left on the road
Memorial lights seen from the centre of the World Trade Center Complex
Memorial lights seen from the centre of the World Trade Center Complex
A lot of flowers were left on and around the memorial
A lot of flowers were left on and around the memorial
It is difficult to describe the scale of the memorial; it takes time to realise the sheer magnitude and power of the statement it makes about a monumental tragedy
It is difficult to describe the scale of the memorial; it takes time to realise the sheer magnitude and power of the statement it makes about a monumental tragedy
Nathaniel Webb was her grandfather, her mother wanted a picture of her with his name
Nathaniel Webb was her grandfather, her mother wanted a picture of her with his name
Colleagues and loved ones stand in silence, paying their respects
Colleagues and loved ones stand in silence, paying their respects
There were a lot of mothers, wives, sons, fathers and husbands who were reliving the pain of their loss
There were a lot of mothers, wives, sons, fathers and husbands who were reliving the pain of their loss
Like firemen, many police officers too lost their lives that day
Like firemen, many police officers too lost their lives that day
Some people quietly walked around the memorial for hours
Some people quietly walked around the memorial for hours
Chris Howard and Jonathan Howard, son and grandson of George Howard, killed on 9/11
Chris Howard and Jonathan Howard, son and grandson of George Howard, killed on 9/11
Praying for their fallen friends
Praying for their fallen friends
Firemen share stories and console one another
Firemen share stories and console one another
Surrounded by supportive family and friends
Surrounded by supportive family and friends
Team RWB who will climb the WTC on September 17 to honour Captain Billy Burke, a firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001
Team RWB who will climb the WTC on September 17 to honour Captain Billy Burke, a firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001
Remembering friends they will never see again
Remembering friends they will never see again
Crowds gather around the memorial museum to see the remains of the original towers
Crowds gather around the memorial museum to see the remains of the original towers
He stood there, looking at a name, frozen, until his son came and whispered something in his ear
He stood there, looking at a name, frozen, until his son came and whispered something in his ear
I come across the man again, he continues to stand in silence
I come across the man again, he continues to stand in silence

Photographs by Kohi Marri

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Closed | (17 comments)
Comments (17) Closed
Human
Sep 13, 2015 12:56pm
Do also remember hundreds of thousands innocents killed since 9/11 by the same race that eliminated native Americans from America.
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Vikram
Sep 13, 2015 01:13pm
A great loss for the families. 9/11 changed the world.
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Shailesh
Sep 13, 2015 01:15pm
No comments from Pakistani?
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Gillani
Sep 13, 2015 01:23pm
I condemn the 9/11 attack, condolences to the families of victims. Killing of innocent people can never be justified. But I also condemn the military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thousands of innocent Muslims were killed in those attacks. Peace should prevail at every corner of the globe. Every human is connected to every other human with a rope of humanity. What is happening in Syria, Iraq and Libya right now is being neglected by the gulf region and America. This situation should be equally borne by every region. Presently Jordan, Pakistan and Germany are holding 90% of refugees. And the aid being received by UN is minimum.
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Shahzad
Sep 13, 2015 06:56pm
@Shailesh What is this ? No Comments Does not mean we appreciate it. You don't even know who were involved. There was not a single Pakistani involved in the 9/11 attacks yet you are here to mock us.
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sbk
Sep 13, 2015 07:46pm
Every life is as precious as our own life. All lives created by the same God. Blood is same in all human lives, whether they are Sunni or Shia, whether they are Muslims or Christians or Jews or Hindus. When we cannot bring back a life, what right have we to take out a life? Destroy all the weapons.
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M.Saeed
Sep 13, 2015 08:18pm
While condoling the agony of those whose loved-ones perished in the horrors of 9/11, one sincerely feels that it is the duty to humanity for the world's greatest super-power that has conquered the space and reached beyond the solar system, just to do a little genuine research and disclose who actually planned and executed the new Pearl-Harbor in New York and why? Incomplete or purpose hidden part disclosures leave too many of blind spots bedeviling the minds of perplexed humanity, even after 14 years.
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Vijay
Sep 13, 2015 08:37pm
@Gillani Nice sentiments. But why is it that a Muslim only talks about the angst of other Muslims or Islamic countries? What's wrong with including the whole of humanity in your ambit?
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Dr.SAdaf
Sep 13, 2015 09:28pm
@Shailesh ,no we are not interested.
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AXH
Sep 13, 2015 10:02pm
@Shailesh - @Human has already commented. It is a shame that the massacre of the people of Kashmir that has been going on for decades at the hands of the Indian occupying forces is not observed. 9/11 was a tragedy and should not have happened. But so should Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and the list goes on.
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AL
Sep 13, 2015 11:13pm
What a shame some people cannot simply allow this tragedy to be commemorated without writing the likes of "Do also remember hundreds of thousands innocents killed since 9/11 by the same race that eliminated native Americans...", and "I condemn the 9/11 attack, condolences to the families of victims...But I also condemn the military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thousands of innocent Muslims were killed in those attacks." Your fake condemnation and sympathy for the 9/11 victims and their families is glaring. Shame on you.
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El Cid
Sep 14, 2015 12:54am
@Gillani: Pakistan has given refuge to more exiles and suffering humanity than all other countries of the World put together. It has also given more food aid. Pakistan just does not get the publicity and the press when it does good for humanity. Easy to check and verify my statement with the UN.
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El Cid
Sep 14, 2015 01:00am
Please note that 9-11 does not begin to compare, does not scratch the surface, to what has been done to Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan...to Muslims and Muslim Civilization in general, in vengeance and in retribution for 9-11. There is no end in sight to the genocide being committed on Muslims in vengeance for 9-11.
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AXH
Sep 14, 2015 02:39am
@El Cid - You are spot on.
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Dr.SAdaf
Sep 14, 2015 08:41am
Every life lost is important and precious, how can we as humans draw a line that death in one part of the world is to be mourned more and the same happening somewhere else should not even be discussed.
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True
Sep 14, 2015 08:47am
@Shahzad : really who trained them regardless where they were from? Read the history of those people who did it?
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zeeshan
Sep 14, 2015 11:48am
@El Cid look around you. Muslims are killing muslims. Don't blame the west! Have the guts to call a spade 'spade'. Easy to blame others but tough to look at your self.
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