Hull of an Ancient Ship Found During Ground Zero Excavation
As the United States approaches the thirteenth anniversary of 9/11, all those old enough to remember where they were when the world changed forever pause to reflect on what that day left for us all. For many it is the anguish of loved ones lost to a horrific terrorist attack. For others it is the loss of freedom and independence we once took for granted.
The freedom to walk through an airport without enduring a long and often humiliating search was taken on 9/11. The independence we all felt about traveling the world over and sharing our pride in America and our pride in being “American”, was taken and replaced with a cautious reluctance to share any of that pride for fear of terrorist aims. Yet, amidst the rubble and efforts to rebuild comes a beacon of freedom and of independence. A sign of good news that is sure to be welcomed on what is an otherwise painful memory, which is forever burned into the conscience of a nation.
Ground Zero was hallowed ground and many resisted the idea of rebuilding on the site where so many lost their lives. Still, others declared not rebuilding would be allowing the terrorist to have a permanent reminder of their attack on our nation. The decision to rebuild won out and plans were implemented to begin the cleanup and preparation for new construction.
As workers began their excavation of the soil under the Twin Towers they were stunned to uncover what appeared to be a very old hull of a ship. Workers immediately stopped their machines and reached out for archeologist who quickly came to study the find. What they found was a piece of history that dates back to the period of the American Revolution and more precisely the era of the Declaration of Independence.
After carefully removing the cross beams of the ship’s hull, a cross sectional cutting of the timbers gave archeologist a window into the past. By looking at the number and size of the rings they were able to date the ships construction and narrow it to sometime around 1773. In addition, they were able to determine the origin of the timber used in the ship’s construction to Pennsylvania. This is the same area and type of timber that was used in the building of Independence Hall, the location for the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
There remain many questions about the purpose of the ship and how it met its end. What is undeniable is that this discovery would never have been made without efforts to rebuild at Ground Zero. The spirit of freedom and the quest for independence that permeated the Colonies in 1773 and until 1781 when the British surrendered at Yorktown, is the same spirit Americans must now find as we struggle in this new battle for freedom and independence.
This discovery should be an omen to those who believe America has been defeated or weakened in the face of tyranny. Just as this ship was hewn by the hands of Patriots destined to be free and independent Americans, so must today’s Patriots work to rebuild and restore the United States of America. They must not rest or declare the job completed until every freedom we once enjoyed and every measure of independence we were once ensured are fully restored.
