Staff photographer Amy Dreher snaps a lot of pictures at the World Trade Center site, documenting the construction progress of the 9/11 Memorial. Amy also trains her lens on the smaller pieces that may be overlooked with a project of this magnitude. Through “The Lens: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial,” readers of The MEMO blog can share some of the unique vantage points captured by Amy.

A moveable feast: The work on the 9/11 Memorial and the World Trade Center site is often done at a frenetic pace. Instead of wasting precious time seeking out a nearby sandwich shop, restaurant or street vendor, many of the hundreds of construction workers at WTC wait for their lunch to come to them. Here you see a portable food cart wheeled around the construction site providing snacks, drinks and food for the dedicated "hard hats" clocking in each day at the WTC construction site.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager of the 9/11 Memorial

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com 

In case you missed it: The above video is from Fox News' "The Rise of Freedom" series that features 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels, who details the mission of the memorial and museum.

By 9/11 Memorial

The National 9/11 Flag continues is restitching journey across the country with a stop in Branson this month, according to the Branson Tri-Lakes News.

The New York Says Thank You Foundation is taking the flag on the country-wide tour to provide an opportunity for local service members to help restore the flag to its original glory. After 9/11, the tattered flag was recovered from ground zero.

"This is the modern day version of the Star Spangled Banner,” Jeff Parness, founder and chairman of the New York Says Thank You Foundation, said in the news report.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Several of Manhattan’s downtown museums have banded together to create the Downtown Culture Pass — a three day, all-access pass to eight downtown cultural attractions.   With the Downtown Culture Pass, pass holders will be granted free admission to participating museums, discounts in museum shops and local restaurants, and reduced ticket rates for the Wall Street Walks walking tour. 

Updated: Check out what DNAinfo.com reported on the passes.  Timeout New York also notes the benefits of the culture pass.

Purchase the Downtown Culture Pass at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, located at 20 Vesey St. in lower Manhattan. The Preview Site offers a 10 percent discount off your purchase when you present the pass at checkout. Prices range from $25.00 (age 18 and older), $15.00 (ages 13 to 17) and $5.00 (ages 6 to 12).

 Also, you can purchase the pass online at www.downtownculturepass.org, the Museum of American Finance or the Museum of Jewish Heritage. 

 With this pass, explore downtown cultural institutions that include Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl St; Museum of American Finance, 48 Wall St.; Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place; National Museum of the American Indian, One Bowling Green; The New York City Police Museum, 100 Old Slip, The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place; Tribute WTC Visitor Center, 120 Liberty St.; and Wall Street Walks.

Your pass to culture downtown was supported and sponsored by New York Water Taxi, New York TAB and the Alliance for Downtown New York.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

The 9/11 Memorial is possible through the generosity of its supporters. Visit the 9/11 Memorial's Museum Shop, and find a keepsake for yourself, family members or friends. Remember that all net proceeds from the sales of these keepsakes are dedicated to building and sustaining the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Thank you for your support and help in building this lasting tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks of 2001 and 1993.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad this month will detail what inspired him to design a national tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks in 2001 and 1993 as part of the "9/11, Today and Tomorrow" speakers series. Arad will share early designs of the memorial in the event called "Realizing the 9/11 Memorial" at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 10., at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, 20 Vesey St.

RSVP now for this event and other presentations in this dynamic series. The events are free, but a $10 donation will help with ongoing programming.

Arad, a partner of Handel Architects, was working as an architect for the New York City Housing Authority when he entered and won the 9/11 Memorial design competition.

His design for the memorial, which is called "Reflecting Absence,"was picked by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in early 2004. Two years after winning the design contest, Arad was one of six recipients of the American Institute of Architect's Young Architects Award.

The award honors architects license ten years or less and have shown "exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers."

In 2006, Arad was one of six recipients of the American Institute of Architects’ Young Architects Award. The award honors architects licensed for ten years or less "who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers."

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

For more than three decades, Super Runners Shop has been outfitting New Yorkers with top of the line athletic wear and running shoes. All are welcome at any of their eight locations - weekend warriors and the fiercest competitors alike. Whether it’s the great sale on Amsterdam, the favorable exchange policy, or the warm smile at the register, owners Gary and Jane Muhrcke have prided themselves on their care for customer and passion for running. As the winner of the first New York City Marathon, Gary’s love for running and the city is clearly evident.

On Sept. 11, Gary and Jane lost one of their Super Runners Shop stores, located on the concourse level of the World Trade Center. Newly opened, it hoped to rouse the would-be runner in all the desk dwellers who populated the towers. Jane recalled pulling customers into the store by raffling off entries to a road race followed by a Willie Nelson Farm Aid concert.

The drawing was set for 9/11. Instead of cancelling the raffle, Jane and Gary continued with the drawing in October, ensuring that the winners still had a chance to run and enjoy the concert.

Gary’s famous phrase - “Never stop running!” - is simple and clear, but endures even more appropriately here. New Yorkers, no matter what, will never stop.

Like the other avid supporters of the local running race that honors 9/11 victims called “9/11 Run to Remember” and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Super Runners Shop continues its commitment to remembering and honoring those who were killed on Sept. 11. Please join the 9/11 Memorial in thanking Super Runners Shop for their support for our cause and the city. Also, learn more about Signs of Support.  

By Norm Dannen, 9/11 Memorial Staff

Norway's Crown Prince Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at sunrise today toured the 9/11 Memorial, which features the 9/11 Memorial Museum's pavilion designed by Snoetta, a Norwegian architecture firm.

The royal couple was greeted by a group of reporters and photographers as they entered the World Trade Center site for an upclose view of the pavilion.  After the tour, the prince and princess greeted the media and took a few questions.

The couple, who were married in August 2001 in Oslo, told reporters they had traveled to New York for their honeymoon, according to a Norwegian journalist's translation. The couple added that they were in Long Island when terrorists struck WTC.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

 In case you missed it: New York Times best-selling author Peter Balakian read a powerful selection of 9/11-themed poems  at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, 20 Vesey St., as part of the well-received “9/11, Today and Tomorrow” speakers series. The event was filmed in HD for online audiences and is being brought to The MEMO blog readers by WNET.ORG's Thirteen Forum.  

Balakian, a professor in humanities and English at Colgate University, has authored five books of poems and three prose works, including the Times best seller “The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response.” His new book, titled “Ziggurat,” wrestles with the aftermath and reverberations of 9/11. Balakian will share some of these September 11-themed works and explain the inspiration behind his words.

On Oct. 13, Balakian kicked off the fall and winter 2010 speakers series that continues next month with 9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad on Nov. 10.  RSVP now for Arad’s presentation and other events in the series, which had its debut earlier this year.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

At the World Trade Center site, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels planted the 50th tree on the plaza of the 9/11 Memorial, which opens in less than a year. Tree plantings began on Aug. 28 when the first 16 trees were planted. The design for the plaza calls for more than 400 trees. By the time of the 10th anniversary, about 250 trees will be in place.

Updated: "I think this is just another step. It’s a small one, it’s a symbolic one, but it shows that the World Trade Center site is progressing, and particularly the memorial which will be done on time and on budget," Bloomberg said after the planting.

See more pictures and read more about the 50th tree planting at DNAinfo.com.

The swamp white oak trees have been growing in a New Jersey nursery since 2007. The average height of the trees is currently 30 feet. They are expected to reach heights of 80 feet.

Bloomberg and Daniels were joined in the milestone planting by First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris, 9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad, Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CV Starr & Company, Inc. and Chairman of The Starr Foundation and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Chris Ward.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff