NY Post

09/13/2011: A visitor creates a crayon rubbing of a
victim's name at the National 9/11 Memorial, NYC
(PHOTO CREDIT: digitalamber.net)

Yes, there is an official 9/11 Memorial gift shop. It must be a temporary set up, as it was extremely small and crowded. It was hard to move without hitting another human. The check-out line was long. I sent Nick into the line while I looked at the merchandise. The sign stating "A portion of your purchase will benefit the 9/11Memorial and Museum" assuaged my guilt about buying 9/11-associated items.

With two t-shirts, a magnet and a bumper stick in hand, I joined Nick at check-out and immediately noticed a woman standing just outside the gift shop exit. She was handing menus to a local Chinese restaurant. 

For a fleeting moment, she looked out of place. So close to this gaping wound on the city's the nation's landscape? Really, lady?  

Then I realized that this is New York.  Handing out flyers, menus, tickets, papers and product samples is guerilla marketing in its best and rawest form. 

Total spent: $36.87. 

Exiting the store, I was tapped on the shoulder by Amber Sutherland, a reporter from the NY Post. She wanted to know what I thought about people merchandising outside the 9/11 Memorial. I told her of my initial reaction inside the store, and my resolution in my head. That it's New York, and we live in a free country with freedom of speech, which comes with responsibility, including the need to be respectful. 

Her photographer, Bill Farrington, took my picture. He's originally from Springfield, MA and that we have a couple friends in common - including at least one who went to jail for embezzling. 

No article or photo in the Post though. It's either a none story or I broke the camera.