Ground Zero – an Unexpected Memorial
St. Paul’s Chapel Hosts an Amazing Testament to Human Compassion
Oct 17, 2009
The photos cover the altar: fliers, letters, mass cards and snapshots. They are pinned to the skirts of the altar and hang above it, reminders of the frantic efforts to find missing loved ones and the sorrowful good-bys that dragged on in the weeks after 9/11. This is but one of about a dozen separate exhibits inside St. Paul’s Chapel at 209 Broadway in New York City (212 233-4164).
A Year of Ministry at Ground Zero
Exhibits at this historic chapel capture the chaos faced by rescue workers after the Twin Towers fell and the compassion of the volunteers and well wishers around the world who responded to the tragedy. The stone building, located just across from the chain link fence that now surrounds the Ground Zero reconstruction site, miraculously survived. The explosions that blew out every window facing the Trade Centers and damaged many surrounding buildings left every stone of the chapel intact.
Clergy and laymen at St. Paul’s daily welcome New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world with worship services, coffee, and friendly people ready to answer questions about the exhibits. A red chasuble vestment, worn during Eucharist services after 9-11, is one of the attractions because after one firefighter pinned a patch to the red material, it began attracting similar offerings. Rescue workers from Honolulu, Utah, Maine, Kansas, Canada, England, Spain, Australia, Mexico, Canada and many other places would eventually deposit hundreds of patches on or near the chasuble.
Once inside, the Chapel’s sky-blue ceiling and chandeliers invite an upward gaze toward the banner that hangs below the organpipes at the back of the church: “To New York City and all the rescuers: Keep your spirits up—Oklahoma loves you!!”
Small details evoke images of the time from September 2001 through May 2002 when more than 14,000 volunteers came to help the recovery workers sifting through the wreckage: a daily calendar showing 4 to 6-hour shifts for cooks, masseurs, podiatrists, and counselors; the type of cots provided for exhausted rescuers; and quotes from the people who were there.
One firefighter said, “When I come in that door I’m covered with blood, sometimes, and they hug me. They love me, they take care of me, they treat me as a real human being. And then they feed me, and they massage me, and then give me adjustments. These are my people. This is my place. This is where I come to be with God.”
International Solidarity in the Wake of 9-11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2002—one year after the attacks—the City of London presented a bronze bell to New Yorkers. “Forged in adversity,” it was cast by the same foundry as the Liberty Bell and conveys the empathy and solidarity of the people of London with the people of New York after the World Trade Center attacks.
One display showcases teddy bears and origami sent by school children from the U.S. and Japan. Many strands of 1000 folded paper cranes from Japan—a practice said to grant one’s dearest wish—were sent to the chapel, some by the survivors of WWII bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In New York City, a Visitor’s Center showing models and sketches of the planned memorial to victims, which is currently under construction, opened in August 2009. The memorial itself will open in approximately two years. But it is likely that the humble yet authentic display inside St. Paul’s Chapel will remain as one of the most moving testaments to the human spirit in the aftermath of unimaginable death and destruction. The Ground Zero Ministry Exhibit is open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m.- 6p.m. The churchyard closes at 5 p.m. daily.
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