The site of the attack on NYC was still crowded when I went there in the afternoon of 9-11-2006. I thought it would have thinned out after the memorial services ended, but there were all kinds of things still going on.

1> Small memorials were posted on the fences all over the area, 2 men were reading profiles of each victim aloud, there were people handing out religious materials & holding discussions, a 9-11 conspiracy rally was larger & louder than I expected, visitors were creating rubbings from the newly unveiled Fire Dept Memorial Wall, the Franciscan Friars had a row of large bells that passers-by could ring in tribute, and all around there were fire & police officers reuniting with colleagues.

2> At the Trade Center site, over the past couple of years, many of the personal memorials have been taken down and half-hearted attempts to keep them from coming back are only effective up to a point.

Small homespun memorials still pop up & grow, fed with thumb-tacked & scotch-taped contributions, posted by people who likely don't know each other. An evolving tribute to the heroic communal effort by people who also didnt know each other 5 years earlier.

This memorial was photographed in February 2006 as it existed on the south border of the site. It was taken down before 9-11.

3> This memorial was also photographed in February 2006 as it existed on the south border of the site.

If you visit the page, move your mouse around the large image & some parts will link to detail shots.