| When I learned the Smithsonians 9/11 Exhibit would be coming to the WA state Museum of History and it would be the only stop on the west coast, I knew it was an opportunity that couldn't be missed. In doing some research I came across a page on their website that said they needed uniformed FD personnel to assist in protecting the valuable exhibits and be available to share the experiences, and perspectives on what happened that day. This was a great way to see the exhibit and to pay some respect to our fallen brothers, so I contacted the museum director. I arranged for six of us, and my daughter, to take all the shifts on 3-06-2005 and our FD would represent the exhibit for the day. And so the trip began with an early morning wake up and breakfast in Marysville. I was too worried about getting back on the road so we wouldn't be late to really enjoy breakfast, but was still good times with friends. We pulled into the parking lot of the museum with 5 mins to spare, a little tight. Once inside and checked in they gave us our badges, a radio and escorted us to the exhibit floor. It's tough to describe the mood change when you walk into the hallway for the first part of the exhibit. It has life size photo's of the President when he is being told that the US is under attack, the Towers, flames and people with disbelief in there eyes and covered in dust. It's a sobering entrance. Once inside there were photo's, videos, audio recordings and artifacts from all four events. There was a twisted piece of steel from one of the towers that you could touch, what a great idea. A good portion of the exhibit was behind ropes but open so it could be touched, stolen or damaged if someone wanted too. We were there to protect it and that we did. We worked in two shifts so half could see the entire exhibit and the rest of the museum, while the other half worked. Very few people spoke to us that day. There was very little talk and a very respectfull mood by all that walked through. I don't know why more didn't approach us or what they were thinking, but that's how it played out. If you click on the photo's below you can see the larger size pictures and my comments. The most impressive thing in the exhibit for me was the movie. There was a movie that was about 10 minutes long at the end of it that showed a chronological timeline through news broadcasts, detailing how everything unfolded. There was footage I had never seen before and it was impressive. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and brought back the feelings I had the day it happened. If you get the chance to see it while it's touring or back at the Smithsonian, don't pass it up. It's a powerfull reminder of what happened and what we face. Prayers for all who perished that day but a special thanks to our 343 brothers who choose to go into that mess, and paid the ultimate price for doing so. |
