Prince Harry Wants To Know: When Will WTC Be Finished?

Prince Harry bowed his head in prayer at ground zero Friday, then toured the Sept. 11 attack site and shook New Yorkers' hands in his first official visit to the United States.

"Big question -- when is this supposed to be finished?" the 24-year-old prince asked two officials showing him rebuilding plans of the World Trade Center site.

The prince laid a wreath of peonies, yellow and white roses at a spot on the site overlooking the Sept. 11 memorial under construction, then bowed his head for several minutes.

Attached to the wreath was his handwritten note, reading "In respectful memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and in admiration of the courage shown by the people of this great city on that day." It was signed, "Harry."

Harry spoke for about 15 minutes with relatives of four 9/11 victims in his first New York City stop. He was to visit a garden memorializing Sept. 11 victims and a veterans center in Manhattan later Friday.

"It's a very kind gesture on his part," said Chip Callori, whose brother, Joseph Amatuccio, was killed at the trade center on Sept. 11, 2001. "For him to realize that this is a sad but important part of our history."

The prince then visited a firehouse across from ground zero, while hundreds of New Yorkers strained for a glimpse of him behind police barricades. He broke away from his security detail to a street around the corner to look at a bronze memorial to 343 firefighters killed at ground zero.

He then chatted with some tourists and shook several hands before going to his next stop.

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Gov. David Paterson and Christopher Ward, executive director of the agency that owns the trade center site, attended the prince's visit.

"It's a very special visit," Ward said. "Obviously, the history of the United States and our partnership in fighting wars around the world makes it even more special."

The prince was to formally name the British Garden in downtown's Hanover Square to honor the 67 British victims of the terrorist attack, then visit the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan to tour the prosthetics facilities and a clinic that treats people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

A British soldier who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan was to attend the ceremony in New York.

Harry, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, is third in line to the British throne.

Comments

[PatA]

Who let Denise in here?

This young man is 24 years old. In those 24 years, he has done more than most of us will ever hope to do. He and his brother are carrying on in the footsteps of their mother.

I am thrilled that he asked when the memorial will be finished. My guess would be when the officials have skimmed off as much of the $$ as possible..­just before the public figures it out.

[denisecchiang]

I can't believe this was Prince Harry's first trip the United States at the age of 24. At the age of 24, I've been sitting my royal tush on American soil since I was born and I think Prince Harry is quite an outsider. Maybe he's a snob and is "afraid of Americans" as David Bowie sings. I think it's random that they have a special site to honor British people who lost their lives in the attacks. I have much sympathy for all human beings who lost their lives in the attacks. Prince Harry has an attitude of snobbery towards our country. Also, though I am no expert, but isn't there some battle between England and Ireland, and New York is so IRISH! From my experience in New York City, it's more about the Irish than the British, so this is very sticky diplomacy.

[JulieKay]

I believe it is his first trip since 9/11.

Why would you say, "Maybe he's a snob." He was fighting in Afghanistan until it was publicly disclosed.

He fought hard with the authorities to be allowed to fight Afghanistan. To me that is not a snob. It is a sign of someone that did not use his status to avoid what was extremely dangerous.

[Lulufifi]

4) '...isn't there some battle between England and Ireland'? Ha ha ha! Well being English and of Irish ancestry can't say that I've noticed that one. Just because there are differences of opinion over Northern Ireland does not mean that English and Irish people hate one another. We live side by side in England and have done quite happily for centuries. Our histories are interwined. We are bound by them. Do you actually take any interest in international affairs?
5) I thought America was supposed to be a 'melting pot' of nationalities - 'land of the free' so why would a British Prince promoting humanitarian issues not be welcome in New York. Are you actually impying that New Yorkers of Irish American backgrounds are RACIST towards the British and this is...as you put it...'very sticky diplomacy'. I'm no royalist and take a common sense approach to the royal family but I will not tolerate your ignorance nor your prejudiced assumptions. I actually think the people of New York deserve better.

[Lulufifi]

Hello Denise
1) Prince Harry has only just started Royal duties at the tender age of 24 - he had a little matter of serving in Afghanistan to deal with as he's a British Army soldier. Visits such as these have to be handled professionally and tactfully. The British don't do 'bull in a china shop' routines. Yes it's only his second visit to the US- so what. The world does not revolve around America. He has visited many different countries to prepare him for his duties.
2) Why would he be afraid of Amercians just because David Bowie sang about it? The only thing that's random is your comment. I find that comment really offensive that a memorial garden to the British who lost their lives in those attacks is 'random'. Are we only ever allowed to honour Americans?
3) Why is he a snob? Why does have an attitude of snobbery towards America? Where's the evidence for this please?

[Nick Hughes]

if on 9/11/2011 there is still a hole in the ground, people are gonna start asking questions.­.

[erathwomen]

Did Harry get an answer? it seems not....

[FatherKindly]

I suspect it will take another decade of wrangling between the Port Authority, the lease holder on the land, and the City of New York before any evident progress is made. The problem, as it usually is, is who is going to make the most money out of it.