Bring the 9/11 Memorial 'Tiles for America' Back to Greenwich Avenue

This sure makes me smile. The corner of Seventh and Greenwich avenues was once a makeshift tribute covered with tiles made by mourners and loved ones of people killed Sept. 11 -- aka Tiles for America -- before the city decided put a ventilation plant there -- and then a crazy lady said the good lord contacted her and told her to steal take them home before Hurricane Irene struck. (Yeah, I know.) I met her once when she brought a few of them back to put on display and trust me, she's crazy.

There's now a facade that covers the aforementioned ventilation plant. It sure would be nice to see the tiles back where they belong. Hey, lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How it used to be:

Previously:

Sept. 11 Memorial 'Tiles for America' Reappear, Apparently Stolen by Crazy Woman (Sept. 11, 2015)

Sept. 11 Memorial 'Tiles for America' Reappear, Apparently Stolen by Crazy Woman

Was heartened to see some of the missing 9/11 "Tiles for America" memorial returned to their home at the corner of Greenwich and Seventh avenues on this most somber of nights. But my joy was quickly extinguished when the woman who had brought (some of) them back for the observance told me she -- with no authorization from the city -- was the one who removed them from Mulry Square because "God contacted" her and told her to take them home before Hurricane Irene struck. (Huh?) From what I could gather, she claims she has told the city she has the tiles and they told her she could just "keep them." As unbelievable as this may sound, I almost believe her because I tried for a good hour to follow what she was saying, and at a certain point I felt like an innocent man being interrogated by the police for 14 hours who would have agreed to anything to make it stop.

As further proof that she's nuts, the website she pointed me to -- if I wanted to "help" -- appears to be in some Chinese dialect and when you use Google Translate, it makes about as much sense as she does. Dear NYC: Why aren't you getting these invaluable mementos back?

September, When It Comes

(Photo by Christopher Smith)

I could handle the Newseum's 9/11 memorial because watching journalists in action -- even under the most horrific conditions -- makes sense to me. But while I'm happy they have finally finished the new World Trade Center and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, I still don't think I'm ready to go downtown. Has it really been 14 years?

  

Page 1 Consider (09/12)

When It Started to Begin

Where the hell did 13 years go?

We miss you, David, and the way it felt before we had to think about this all the time.

David Charlebois was first officer on American Airlines Flight 77

Page 1 Consider (09/11)

A City Forever Changed

Never Forget (Your Commemorative Coffee Mug)

I get that museums rely on gift shops for income. But the one in the 9/11 museum sure seems a bit crass, no? Read HERE.