It was meant to stand as an enduring call for peaceful trade, commemorating the harmonious recovery of the global climate following the past wars that had shaken the world. In fact, German artist Fritz Koenig had modeled it after the Kaaba of the Grand Mosque of Mecca until it quite ironically came under attack on the fateful day of the 9/11. It was a miracle that this exposed 25-ton hulk of steel escaped largely unscathed and it’s precisely this narrow shave which makes it fitting as a memorial to the grieving residents of New York and the innocent lives lost through the horrific attacks. Standing at approximately 25 feet in height, it consists of 52 bronze segments pieced together, much like the broken fragments that have been gathered and glued together by the people since the incident. It’s housed within the Liberty Park, which itself is a landscaped oasis of green by the World Trade Center as a memorial grounds accompanying the National Memorial and Museum for September 11. Following the visit to the monument, head over to the pure white construct of the St Nicholas National Shrine. A thousand tales and poignant reminders are woven into the park grounds as a telling memoir of why, like a phoenix from the ashes, we should rise against the tragedy.