Save one hour to see “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism” Memorial, a breathtaking experience. This Memorial is located on the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor in New Jersey, an estimated 30 minutes from Newark Airport, near the New Jersey Ferry from Liberty State Park, and is where the new cruise ship port terminal is.
This Monument, also known as Tear Drop Monument, as referenced on Snopes.com, was developed by Russian artist, Zurab Tsereteli, to acknowledge the victims of September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers. This is also a location to capture extraordinary photo images of the New York City skyline and Bay.
September 11, 2001 is a date which everyone globally remembers. Yet, it is incomprehensible what the experiences of these local people working and living in New York City were. Tsereteli built this Memorial as a gift from the Russians. The monument has a direct view of the Statue of Liberty and the former World Trade Center, and is a tribute to the victims.
“When we approach the memorial and lay the flowers, we see ourselves being reflected in the tear. So you are participating. You are crying as well,” explains Tsereteli, as the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority website captures. Tsereteli remembers the moment in Russia when he heard about the Twin Towers and he saw people’s crying and grief.
“It also displays hope for the united strength in the global fight against terrorism,” says Tseretli.
This was the moment which Tsereteli embraced an image of a tear drop to create the Memorial. And, on his visit to ground zero following September 11, Tsereteli looked towards the New Jersey shores where many evacuees escaped to discover an appropriate site for this memorial.
About This New York City Monument Attraction
This Memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the attack, with prominent public figures, including former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Jon Corzine, and family members of the World Trade Center victims. There was a bit of controversy as to the actual location it was to be placed because of the enormous size of the monument would block the view in the skyline.
This steel Memorial, as the monument's brochure reads, stands 100 feet tall covered in bronze, with an uneven rip in the middle, which contains a 40 foot stainless steel tear drop and weighs 176 tons. Nine walkways lead to the 11-sided granite base where the names of the 9/11 victims and victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombings are engraved.
Harbor View Park at Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor
The 430-acre Peninsula is also the new home to the maritime terminal port used for cruise ships in addition to this 2-acre Harbor View Park with the massive Memorial which is viewed by ships and planes passing by. There is plenty of parking nearby and park is open from dawn to dusk with free admission.
This man-made peninsula was home to Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne (MOTBY), a naval supply center. It was turned over to the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) and funded by the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund with a contribution from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Other Memorials by Zurab Tsereteli in NYC
Visitors may see “Good Defeats Evil,” a sculpture which was designed from scrapped American and Soviet missiles on the grounds of the United Nations Building in New York City on the East Side of First Avenue between 45th & 46th Street.
“To the Struggle Against World Terroism” Memorial at Harbor View Park is an inspiring place to visit and shoot photo images close to the Newark Airport on trips to New York City.
Donna West - Donna West is a Writer with an uncanny ability and passion of finding unusual ideas, off the beaten path, even in everyday occurrences.
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