To the Heart of It (ePub)

In April 2002, I went to New York with four co-workers to volunteer at Ground Zero for a week. At thetime I was the director of an AmeriCorps program in Wisconsin. I announced this opportunity to the AmeriCorps members serving in my program and then coordinated the trip for those who were able to come.I knew this experience would change my life soI brought a journal with me to record my thoughts andexperiences. I wanted to remember what it was likewhen I was there, so I brought the journal with meeverywhere I went and wrote in it every opportunity Ihad. Reading it can be difficult for me, but I do it whenI feel the need to reflect. I wanted to write out the notesof my journal because I needed to release my feelingsfrom Ground Zero.I also felt it was important to share thisexperience with others. Many of my loved ones askedme what it was like volunteering at Ground Zero but Icouldn't verbalize it; this memoir is a recollection ofwhat I experienced while in New York, based on myjournal. I changed some of the names to respect theprivacy of those I met.To separate the time I spent exploring NewYork, and time at Ground Zero, boldface typehighlights time spent at Ground Zero.Because it was such an emotional experience forme, and because I experienced a lot, some details arefuzzy, but this is how I remember New York andGround Zero. This is my experience, from the bus trip,to volunteering at Ground Zero,and exploring New York.