By Jonathan Schuppe and Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
Financial District - Some 9/11 families were disappointed they couldn't go down into the pit at Ground Zero to remember their loved ones during the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Construction has prevented access to the bottom of the site, where twin reflecting pools had once been the centerpoint of the annual memorials. This year, a single wood-rimmed pool was placed on ground level near the intersection of Washington and Liberty streets.
"There was something very symbolic about going down to the pit," said Loretta Brethel Feret, who lost her brother, Capt. Daniel Brethel of Ladder 24. "It's not the same. At least the two pools represented something. This seems kind of makeshift."
The pond, which families filled with yellow, orange and red roses and tulips, was meant to be the beginnings of a memorial plaza that is being constructed as part of the World Trade Center.
Eric Han, 19, of Holmdel, N.J., said he was a little disappointed that he wasn't able to descend into the pit. On his way to the pool, he saw a ball point pen at his feet and scrawled a message to his father, Frederick Kim Han, in the wood: "Love and miss you, father."
The pool undercut "the momentousness" of the visit," Han said. "But it was the best they could do, I guess."
Han said he was also disappointed to see so little progress at Ground Zero.
"After eight years they haven't built anything? I expected something, some kind of structure."
Families needed to snake around the Deutsche Bank building to access the pool. On their way, they would pass a wall of remembrance on Greenwich Street that had messages loved ones left to the fallen over the years.
"Dear Jonny, I love you always. Your sister, Kathy," read one note dated today. One penned in blue marker from 2005 said, “We will remember forever.”
But some thought the pool was a better option than the pit.
"I like this one better," said Rev. David Montero. The wasn't such a long walk and it wasn't at a 45 degree angle. "The line moves a lot faster. It's a lot more organized."
Jeanine Moss, 31, of Staten Island said thought the single pond was a sign of progress. "It looks like they're actually moving forward with everything," she said. "It's reassuring."
