Day 5 (Saturday Sept. 11)

Woke up at 4:30 in the morning to go visit Ground Zero. Here are the photos from that. I hope they tell the story the way I saw it:

Peter Velez walked more than 100 miles to get to Ground Zero. He left six days earlier and got to the site by 10 p.m. on Friday.

Two World Financial Building had the words "Never Forget" on its side. It also had a huge U.S. flag.

A little reminder that Mexicans were among the victims.

The site where the Twin Towers once stood is empty as the sun rises.

Morning sunrise over St. Paul Chapel, which is across the street from Ground Zero.

Inside the chapel, a service was held at exactly 8:46, when three years earlier the event happened.

And on the outside, the bell was rung to remember the victims.

Ramiro Zapata (center) kisses his 7-month-old Roberto Emiliano Zapata as his wife San Juanita looks on as the bell is rung. Ramiro Zapata works for the Austing Fire Department in Texas.

Two women remember the event as the bell is rung.

A little reminder of the nationalities of the victims.

Very symbolic. Liberty street at West Street backgrounded by a large U.S. flag at the Financial District. I say is symbolic because of the words, especially "west", which is why the attacks happen on this "western" culture.

A cop stops and ponders near a huge banner with names of the victims.

Tight security was seen all around.

As the names of the victims are read off. A woman looks up at where the towers once stood.

Finally, a protestor named Joel Meyers of New York (left) gives a piece of his mind to Jeff Johnson. The protestors said some disturbing words as the tribute was going on, forcing Johnson to talk back.

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As you can tell, the day was very eventful. I, along with Kevin Martin and Rebecca Neal, got there at 5 a.m. to get the experience first hand. Needless to say, we didn't have much sleep. We got some of that in the cab ride back to the hotel, see:

Photo Copyright of Kevin Martin.

After visiting the site. I had to go back to the convention. After all, that's what I was here in New York for. I made it back in time to see journalism idol Bill Moyer give a speech at the convention. I shot the usual "man at the podium" photos and then I got bored. So, I started to get creative. The following photo is of him as he is reflected on the glass ceiling at Ballroom A of the hotel. From what I hear, people who were at the speech had no idea what I was doing. One lady, I am told, thought I was shooting something else besides the speech and she mentioned that I "was being rude". C'mon lady? Look at the photo... it's better than him with the microphone looking like it's going to go down his throat as most podium photos look to be. Here's the final product. Now, do you think I was rude? Or, do you think I was trying to stand out from other photographers? You make your "Monday-morning quarterback call now" I'll give you permission.

By the way, most people loved his speech and said it was the best they have heard in a while. I got the photo of him and the actual speech that he read -- a speech that was sold for more than $1,000 dollars at an auction later that evening. Now lady, how rude are you?

Since I was on a mirror mood. I decided to do that later, as well. Here's Callie from St. Cloud University. She seems nervous (later tonight she said she was) as she was waiting to find out if she would be chosen as student representative at the SPJ Board. She won! Congratulations Callie. I'm glad you're representing me.

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