Miami Football Visits 9/11 Memorial
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
NEW YORK – The sun was shining and the air was crisp; it was a beautiful Christmas morning in New York City.
The Miami Hurricanes, who are in town for Thursday’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl, got a bird’s eye view of The Big Apple at the One World Observatory and visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Tuesday morning.
“Going today was definitely an amazing thing,” St. Louis said. “It’s still very sad to know what happened all those years ago, but it’s great to see that we still carry on the memory of all those people that lost their lives and the people that tried to come to their rescue. Over all it was a great day, but a sad day.” Many of the players were too young to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, but all were moved by their visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, especially New York native Jahair Jones.
“As a little kid, you don’t really know much that’s happening at the time,” Jones said. “When you know that your mother is working down there and your aunt is working down there then you realize things are serious and something is wrong. I remember I was a little kid that was excited about getting home from school early, but when I got home my grandmother told me there was serious stuff going on.” For Jones, Tuesday’s visit brought back many memories and emotions and even had a personal connection for the redshirt senior offensive lineman.
“It was great seeing the new World Trade Center,” Jones said. “It’s been some time since I’ve been here and when I was walking through the exhibits, I saw a picture of one of my old teacher’s brother who passed away during that time. That hit me a little bit.” Miami’s players began their visit by going over 100 stories to the top of One World Observatory, where they were welcomed by picturesque views of the island of Manhattan, New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
“That was amazing seeing New York City from up there,” St. Louis said. “You could see Harlem, New Jersey, basically everything from up there and being at the height of the Twin Towers was a great thing.”The Canes then spent time by the reflection pools that have taken the place of the fallen World Trade Center towers and serve as a memorial for the nearly 3,000 victims that passed away as a result of the World Trade Center attacks. Finally, they entered the 9/11 Museum
“I loved it,” Jones said. “The last time I was down there it was just a pit. It was Ground Zero. There was nothing. The water fountain was beautiful and the exhibit was beautiful. They had some of the beams and other things in there that I had never seen before. As a kid you don’t really know or understand, but now I’m older and I get it. I understand what that exhibit and that area means to America and I love it.” Tuesday’s visit was the latest in a long list of bowl events the Hurricanes have experienced in their time in New York. Miami’s players have also attended a comedy show at Lincoln Center, had a shopping spree at Harman and are set to attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
“This is amazing,” St. Louis said. “We are in New York City in Christmastime. It’s one last time to be with my brothers and we are in the best city in the world with the best people to be here with at the best time to be here.”
