The Teardrop Memorial

Almost everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the attacks on the World Trade Centers on September 11th, 2001, but for some, details and specifics about that day and its aftermath have started to fade. In fact, an entire memorial has already faded from memory-- Russia's gift to the United States, which is called "To the Struggle Against World Terrorism", or, more simply, "The Teardrop Memorial". The nearly 100-foot tall tower of bronze-coated steel has a jagged gash running through the center and a delicate (albeit huge) stainless steel teardrop suspended within the crack. But despite its imposing size, history has largely forgotten the statue-- in fact, there's even a page on Snopes.com, the website dedicated to debunking urban legends and online rumors, confirming its existence.  Perhaps its location, in Bayonne, New Jersey, some 15 miles away from Manhattan, has something to do with the fact that few know about the site. Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, the man behind the monument, was hesitant to build his memorial on top of Ground Zero out of respect, and chose Bayonne for a few reasons. The small New Jersey town was a site for first responders, and a safe haven for those escaping the chaos of Manhattan that day. Plus, Tsereteli liked the view from Bayonne-- you can see the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline, where the Twin Towers once stood. In fact, the memorial is made up of one column because from Bayonne, the World Trade Center towers in the distance appeared to be one building. Tsereteli, a famed Russian artist, was inspired to build the memorial on his own, and even footed the bill (which estimates place at around $12 million) himself. The statue is an official gift of the Russian government, and Vladamir Putin and Bill Clinton attended the dedication ceremony on September 11, 2006. Along the base are granite plaques etched with the names of those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Centers in 2001 and in 1993. The design of the memorial itself has been both praised and criticized, but the statue is accepted by most. In fact, on September 11, 2011, ten years after the tragedy, a section of steel was placed by the monument. There's no better place to escape the hustle of the city and do some quiet reflection on the event than the To the Struggle Against World Terrorism Monument. - Roadtrippers