New York Gov. George Pataki, center left, holds a giant pair of scissors during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York on Sept. 6, 2006. The center was built to offer visitors to the attack site a glimpse into the lives of the people who were lost and the towers that once stood there.
Lower Manhattan resident June Grancio looks at exhibits in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York on Sept 6, 2006. The center, built to offer visitors to the attack site a glimpse into the lives of the people who were lost and the towers that once stood there, opened to private visits from victims' families, Sept. 11 survivors and recovery workers on Wednesday. It opens to the public on Sept. 18.
Firefighters Justin Enzmann, left, and James Davilio look at exhibits in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York on Sept 6, 2006. The center opened to private visits from victims' families, Sept. 11 survivors and recovery workers on Wednesday. It opens to the public on Sept. 18.
Ron Parker, a first responder on Sept 11, 2001, and now a tour guide at ground zero, stands next to a twisted beam from the World Trade Center site in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center, Sept 6, 2006. The center will serve as a temporary memorial space until the official memorial opens in 2009.
Manny Papir looks at a wall of photographs of those killed on Sept 11, 2001, at the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York on Sept 6, 2006. Two sections of wall have been turned into a giant photo gallery, filled with images of smiling faces sent in by victims' families. The center offers guided tours of the site led by survivors, area residents and victims' family members.
Two guns that were fused together on Sept. 11, 2001 are displayed in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center, Wednesday, Sept 6, 2006, in New York. Having someplace physical, with artifacts people can see, will make a difference in making sure people remember Sept. 11, 2001, and its aftermath, said Alexander Santora, who leads tours at the site and talks about his firefighter son, Christopher, who died that day.
A wall of photographs showing victims who perished at ground zero during the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is displayed in the Tribute WTC Vistor Center in New York on Sept 6, 2006. Artifacts on display include missing-person fliers, a wrecked piece from one of the downed planes, a twisted beam from the site, as well as the uniform of a firefighter who died.
The turnout coat belonging to FDNY firefighter John Ielepi, killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, is displayed in the new Sept. 11 Tribute Center on Sept 6, 2006. The Tribute Center is the first visitors center to open near ground zero and contains exhibits and artifacts about the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Lee Ielepi, vice president of the September 11th Families' Association, left, explains one of the exhibits in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, right, on Sept. 6, 2006.
New York Gov. George Pataki looks at one of the exhibits in the new Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York on Sept 6, 2006. "Tribute is the critical word, because for all the horror, for all the loss on Sept. 11, we can never forget the courage with which New Yorkers responded," Pataki said.