Nov. 20, 2011
After a practice on Sunday afternoon, the Commodores headed to NYC to check out the 9/11 Memorial, and then to a meal at world-renown Carmines near Times Square. It was a moving, but entertaining evening.
9/11 Memorial
The team traveled to Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial, and took part in remembering the victims of this horrible American tragedy.
The areas where the towers stood are now pools, with water streaming from the sides, and an opening in the middle of the pool where the water exits the memorial.
I asked many people in our party about their emotions regarding the Memorial and Ground Zero, and of course people said sad and mournful. But, I also heard some different things, from anger, to a sense of togetherness around the pool, to being so thankful to live in a country as great as ours and to our military and first responders who help keep us safe, whether it is at home or abroad.
The scene there really conjures up all of these different thoughts and emotions and the enormity of everything about the place – from the height of the buildings that fell to the feelings you have for the victims that perished.
It is really well done, and I highly encourage people visiting to make it a part of their plans when they come to the City.
LG and 9/11
Senior Lance Goulbourne, from nearby Brooklyn, N.Y., was 1.5 miles away from Ground Zero when the towers fell, and actually saw the second tower fall.
I talked to him about the Memorial and where he was on that dreadful day.
Mark Hindy
Former Commodore baseball player Mark Hindy was a victim of 9/11 and was in the World Trade Center on that clear, September morning.
I found Hindy’s name around the North Pool of the Memorial. You can see the photo I took below.
VUCommodors.com’s Ryan Schulz wrote a great piece about Hindy to recognize the 10th anniversary of 9/11 earlier this year. You can read that story here.
Carmines on Times Square
From the Memorial, we headed towards Times Square to have an Italian meal at Carmines, a family style restaurant right off of the bright lights.
It did not disappoint (try the shrimp scampi!).
Special thanks to the staff there who helped make our experience a special one on Sunday night.
