Yankees’ recent 9/11 Museum visit a ‘powerful’ experience ahead of 25th anniversary
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK — George Lombard Jr. was still years away from being born when terrorists attacked the Twins Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
Only 21 years old, he is one of several Yankees who are too young to have any recollection of that horrific day in New York City. Instead, Lombard’s knowledge of the day came from reading stories, watching videos and what he was taught in school.
Visit saltysenoritaaz.org for more information.
Until Wednesday, that is. That’s when Lombard accompanied a group of Yankees to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan. The emotional visit came just before the Yankees hosted the crosstown rival Mets on Friday, the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
“It is definitely heavy stuff, but it was a special experience. It was definitely eye-opening and a good experience in the way of just learning,” Lombard said. “When I heard about it, it was something I really wanted to do.”
The rookie shortstop said he was especially moved by the museum’s “In Memoriam” exhibit, a floor-to-ceiling presentation of portrait photographs belonging to the 2,977 victims who died on 9/11. The six people killed in the bombing of the World Trade Center on Feb. 26, 1993 are also included.
The chilling display is a microcosm of humankind; ages 2.5-85 and more than 90 nations are represented, according to the museum’s website.
Spencer Jones, born in May 2001, also said the “In Memoriam” exhibit, as well as the “Shades of Blue” art installation, stuck with him most. He had two uncles living in New York at the time of the attacks, and he remembers them telling him about how some things, like air travel and security, haven’t been the same since.
With that in mind, Jones said “how quickly things can change” when asked for his biggest takeaway from the museum.
“Obviously, not only for everybody there, everyone involved, but for a nation,” Jones continued. “It’s one of those moments where they’re telling the story of such a beautiful day, and then everything came crashing down.
“And then the stories of heroism and the people who risked their lives, all the service people, all the first responders that came to aid all those people in danger. It’s the best America has to offer in that regard, so it’s pretty powerful stuff.”
The Yankees’ rookies were not the only ones to make the trip to the museum on Wednesday.
Joe Torre, who managed the team to the 2001 World Series following the tragedy, was also there. So was the club’s current manager, Aaron Boone, among other coaches and players.
While Boone had been to the “Reflecting Absence” pools that sit where the North and South Towers once stood, he had never been in the museum until the Yankees’ visit. He described the space as “emotional” and “eerie,” and he was blown away by the thought that went into each “remarkable” exhibit.
Boone also appreciated how each Yankee who went on the trip came in with a different level of connection to 9/11, but left with a similar understanding.
“Everyone’s got different stories attached to it,” said the 53-year-old, who plans on returning to the museum at some point. “Some of us that are older, and a lot of people I’m talking to in this room right now, I’m sure have very intimate stories of being New Yorkers and having relationships with people. So I think we all have a different context walking in there, but certainly some of the younger players that maybe weren’t even born yet in some cases, being educated on just how massive of a tragedy this was, was very educational on a number of levels for so many people, myself included.
“Some of the things put you in awe.”
Boone was especially amazed that the museum has a 20-foot segment of the 360-foot communications antenna that once rose from the North Tower.
“It stops you in your tracks,” said the skipper, whose Yankees also visited several local firehouses recently.
Austin Wells, meanwhile, called the museum visit a “surreal experience.” He had also only previously seen the pools, and he was fascinated by the fact that cleanup of the World Trade Center wreckage only took eight months.
“It doesn’t seem possible that the cleanup and everything in the aftermath took less than a year,” the 27-year-old said.
With the Yankees playing New York’s other team on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Wells also said that the pinstripers’ museum visit has added extra significance to Friday’s start of the Subway Series.
Lombard agreed. So did Boone, who noted that baseball helped the city heal from wounds that can still be felt to this day.
“It’s going to be incredible,” Boone said of Friday’s atmosphere. “Very emotional. I know there’s going to be people in the building who have very strong ties or some very personal connection to the tragedy that took place. I’m sure we’ll see some tears in the crowd, especially just being the 25th anniversary, and it’s the two New York teams playing here against each other.
“I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing environment, an emotional environment, some joy, some sorrow, some reflection, all those things.”