On September 11, 2001, I watched in horror as Islamic terrorists reduced an iconic New York landmark to rubble in an unprecedented act of violence that stunned the world.

Two hijacked planes were used as missiles to destroy the World Trade Center Twin Towers that once dominated the New York skyline.

Bermudians Rhondelle Tankard, Boyd Gatton and Robert Higley were among the nearly 3,000 people that perished on a day that will live on in infamy.

May they all rest in peace.

The destruction of the Twin Towers themselves was like losing the big brother I never had for I had known them from childhood having first laid eyes on the gargantuan structures during a family visit to New York in the mid 1970s. It is a sentiment shared by many New Yorkers.

My birth coincided with the doors of the World Trade Center opening for business and over the years the Twin Towers and I grew together until that fateful September day when a relic of my child/hood came crashing down in a heap of pulverised concrete and twisted metal.

Thirteen years later I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum to pay my respects to those that perished along with the towers that dreadful day. The experience was extremely humbling.

I felt a great sense of loss as I stood over two large Memorial Pools that are the footprints of the Twin Towers.

Running my fingers across the names of those who perished that have been carved out of a metal plaque bordering the gigantic pools, I could not help but reminisce about the chaotic scenes that unfolded on 9/11.

Occasionally, the gusty wind blew spray from the waterfall of the North Memorial Pool on to unsuspecting onlookers.

It seemed as though the souls of the dead were reaching out to comfort the living as they came to honour, reflect and mourn their loss.

Overlooking the park is the Freedom Tower that now dominates New York’s skyline.

The structure stands at 1,776 feet, a height which symbolises the year America went to war with the British over their independence. As was the case with its predecessor, the Freedom Tower also has its share of critics.

But as history has already proven, New Yorkers will eventually embrace the new structure as they did the Twin Towers.

On any given day thousands visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum which is located below the site of the former Twin Towers.

The actual foundations of the Twin Towers remain intact along with the slurry wall erected to keep the Hudson River out during construction of the former World Trade Center complex from the mid-1960s to early ‘70s.

Among the many artefacts on display are massive steel columns from the Twin Towers, charred and twisted emergency vehicles that the towers collapsed onto as well as personal items such as clothing, wallets and jewellery that encapsulated the tragic events of 9/11.

The museum is heavily guarded with visitors subjected to a security check at the entrance while visitors are prohibited from photographing certain sensitive memorabilia.

Among the everlasting memories I have of my visit is that of a young woman grieving as she caressed a photograph of a deceased loved one on display at the memorial.

The Twin Towers and all who perished on 9/11 may be gone. But they shall never be forgotten.