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Excerpts from "New York" journal, May
2002
"Wednesday 20th May 2002. Our great adventure to the 'Lost
Continent' begins at dawn..."
The Empire State Building
"...A plan to climb to the top of the Empire State Building
is hatched over a Costa Coffee ('Next Guest?') to take Fairhaven
School Bear to be photographed on top of NY. $9 is the ticket. We
are soon at the top after 30 mins queuing in a dank basement. The
elevator leaps ten floors at a time. The view is utterly out of
this world. We look down at buildings which towered above us minutes
before..."
"...After the excitement of seeing this thrusting city from
above we seek refuge from the heat and humidity in our hotel where
we discover that the Ground Zero Team have reached 'Closure' on
the clearance work ahead of schedule. A memorial service at Old
St Paul's which has been used as a rest station since Sept 11 is
planned, meanwhile the firefighters, NY police and bereaved families
are to parade with the last steel girder from the site tomorrow.
We resolve to go..."
Ground Zero parade
Sketch Right - St Paul's Tributes
"...Hundreds line the route in
respectful silence. We hear the painful sounds of a 'Last Post'
in the distance and a fly past of helicopters overhead..."
"... The procession is headed by
a flat base truck carrying the last steel girder to be removed from
the site. It is draped in black with a floral tribute. Behind this
is an empty ambulance with a stretcher recalling the thousands or
so dead they have been unable to recover. Police piper bands follow
with relatives carrying walking sticks ('Stick together America')
and photographs of the deceased. It is all very tearful but obviously
appreciated by relatives, police and firefighters alike. Bren is
interviewed by CBS news and tells them we are privileged to be here.
As we leave the scene we meet 'Lillian' who lost her daughter 'Reneé'
on flight 11. She was an air stewardess traveling to a conference.
Her remains have not been found..."
Giant Rats in New York!
"...Severe problems with the drains. Gas explosion
from a build up of methane. Measures taken include nitrogen neutralising
and the effect is a build up of hot air captivated in this blow
up rat off 5th Avenue!..."
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'God Bless America', from the Ground Zero 'Closure' parade.
Statue of Liberty
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