National 9/11 Memorial By Matthew Modzelewski

            The National 9/11 Memorial is a place of a million meanings. To some, it is a monument to a decisive moment in American history, while to others, it is hallowed ground, similar to that of a cemetery.

Large bronze plaques encircle the reflecting pools that are placed where the World Trade Center buildings once stood, bearing the names of the victims of that tragic act of terror. The plaques have meaningful adjacency. This means that all of the names on the bronze plaques have been placed in such a way that they reflect relationships and friendships of those that died without divulging the connection shared between those placed next to one another. Those that visit the memorial can take a rubbing of the names on the plaques with paper and wax markers distributed by the memorial. This act is meaningful for those that lost someone on that day, but even more meaningful for those that lost someone who remains remain unidentified. The rubbing of their name serves as a way for their family to finally bring them home.

There is no question that the Memorial is “American”, as it represents one of the darkest days in our history by documenting the lives lost on that day. Christians, Jews, and Muslims died on that day together, not as individual members of their respective faiths, but as Americans that were targeted by an extreme force of evil that did not act within the confines of a rational being. Furthermore, the Memorial is the resting place for hundreds of unidentified remains and a place of mourning for those families that were never able to see their loved ones again.

            Despite the special meaning this place holds to many, it is also the source of conflict and hatred. It remembers a time when the nation perceived there was ill intent coming from an entire religion, a religion that is built upon teachings not too dissimilar from those of the Judeo-Christian beliefs. Following the 9/11 attacks, Muslims across the world, especially in the United States were persecuted endlessly due to their religious beliefs. Ignorant individuals, caught up in the tragedy that unfolded, used it as an excuse to release their pent up anger on many individuals very loosely tied to the extremist views of a few individuals. Muslims were denied their basic rights, verbally beaten down, and physically attacked.

            Personally, this site has a particularly positive meaning to me. The meaning transcends the unjust hatred of an entire religious group to reveal that there can be good found in even the worst acts of violence.

Growing up, my mother told me she would never be able to visit the National 9/11 Memorial once it was completed. Unable to grasp why she said this, I played it off as normal emotions, a lifelong New Yorker could not bear the pain involved with seeing a memorial dedicated to the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the matter of minutes. But, once I grew up, I realized it was much deeper than this. My mother knew John J. Badagliacca as a business contact through her position as a portfolio manager at Retirement System Group Inc. His office was located on the 104^th floor in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. Over a span of 14 years, he worked his way up the corporate ladder at Cantor Fitzgerald, earning himself promotion after promotion, eventually getting a position selling bonds for the Treasury. Despite being a busy man dedicated to his work, he always found time in the morning to call my mother to see how she was doing and how her morning was going. Instead of greeting my mother with “Hello Deb” or something of that nature, he would say “Good morning sunshine!” On September 10^th, 2001, my mother received a special call from John. The call was not special because of its content, but instead because this would be his last call to my mother. John was one of the 2,753 that perished on September 11^th, 2001. His office was located three floors above the location where American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into Tower 1. His name now is memorialized on panel N-52 at the National 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan.

            John J. Badagliacca was a family man that had a profound impact on all those that knew him. John gifted me a red wagon when I was born that I only have fond memories of. Although I never got to meet John, he has taught me a valuable life lesson. I now go through life knowing that it can only take three words to have profound impact on someone’s life.