In the 1990s I was a Park Ranger at the NPS Manhattan Sites Unit, which included (at the time) scattered sites like Castle Clinton, Grant's Tomb, and Federal Hall... the last is at 26 Wall Street, literally around the corner from WTC.

Coming in from the NJ side of the river via the PATH train, I'd generally have time to grab breakfast (bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll) and in decent weather would sit at a bench on the plaza outside the towers or across the street at Liberty Park to eat and watch all the human traffic before hitting the office and changing into uniform.

There was a statue in the park of a guy in a suit looking in his briefcase (had to look, it was titled "Double Check"). The last time I saw it was about five years later, on September 13, 2001. It was one of few pieces of WTC artwork to survive.



The statue was cleaned up slightly and returned to the same park. The artist didn't repair the dents and other damage; he wanted people to remember how they got there.

In the years since then, I've been past there numerous times but haven't been able to bring myself to stop and "visit."

1980 Was stationed on Governor's Island with the USCG. "A" school was located there. Electronics/Telephone.

Many trips up the tower to the observation deck. Incredible views of the city. Sometime dodgy weather in the clouds.