Grand addition to N.Y. skyline

I was thrilled to read the Nov. 4 article Open for business, about the opening of the magnificent One World Trade Center, a 3-million square foot tower soaring to a height of 1,776 feet at the top of the New York skyline.

I grew up, attended school and college, taught at a high school and a community college, all within 20 miles of the World Trade Center site. Like all Americans, I was devastated by the loss of so many lives and the destruction of those great Twin Towers in the 9/11 tragedy.

But there are extraordinary new structures that now, like the Twin Towers did in their time, reflect a fresh assertion of the human spirit and are new monuments to the courage, strength and the greatness of America.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Grand addition to N.Y. skyline."