A Look into the Nightly Cleaning of the 9/11 Memorial Reflecting Pools
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2021
- James Maroon is one of the few people who's job it is to spend 8 hours a night, five days a week, at the bottom of the 9/11 Memorial making sure that it looks perfect for the following days visitors. James shares his story and perspective on the job he has taken on.
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Directed, shot, and edited by Josh Charow
Produced by Josh Katz & The Downtown Alliance
Music by Alistair Sung
Special thanks to Downtown Alliance and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Limelight is a documentary series that follows different New Yorkers for the day. The goal is to tell unheard stories from around the city that will widen our perspectives.
If you know a good story, send me a tip at: joshuacharow@gmail.com
“It gets dark in there some times and you loose yourself in there but it’s pretty beautiful to see to sun come up over the wall”
*the not to 🥴
@@drewbiedoobie5597 *that not the 🥴
@@dominikIWNL ligma
@@dominikIWNL ballz
Your quote is inaccurate so no real need for quotations. Just sayin’.😂
I had NO idea this was even a job! And the fact it takes 8 hours from midnight to 8am is mind blowing. Hats off to the cleaners maintaining one of the most tragic of memorials.
Why don’t they use a pool robot? I have one in mine and it cleans great
@@fjuvo is your pool 208ft by 208 feet wide too?
They have a pool robot
His name is Jim
@@fjuvo Sure, a pool robot could be put in. But where's the honor to those that the memorial is for in a robot cleaning? It takes a human touch of respect and honor to keep that memorial pool clean. I respect that.
its paid job......
0:10 I wanna say, the shot of him walking towards the waterfall was absolutely stunning
good video
Yes
omg its daily dose of internet! HELLO how are you doing???
Thanks so much!
It is odd how this video is getting recommended to everyone now
Your standards have been low for a long time my guy.
Five nights a week, this man literally walks in the footsteps of those taken that horrible day. Thank you to everyone who works there and does their part to maintain the site on behalf of all of us.
No he doesn’t.
@@JIMMYUNKNOWN Why do you say that?
@@mcarp555 because he does not.
@@JIMMYUNKNOWN Can you elaborate on that? You're just making an unfounded claim otherwise.
@@mcarp555 no, im not. He does not literally walk in their footsteps.
I have only lived in the city for almost 6 months now and visit the memorial every chance I get. Now I want to go between 12-8 to thank these guys for what there doing. Thank you for sharing this story...
Totally do it man
Please thank them from me as well! I last visited new york shortly after 911 and wasn't there since. It looks beautiful.
You would be trespassing if you do. The memorial is closed during that time. It's open from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Only way you can thank em is to commit a misdemeanor. About as american as it gets in order to thank some unsung heroes.
nate sheepard living in nyc like an npc
I visited the memorial a few years ago for a college class trip. I didn’t expect to have the emotional reaction that I did. Seeing what had been created there in the aftermath of 9/11 blew me away and I couldn’t help but get choked up. I was only 4 on 9/11 but I feel like I remember it so vividly. My mom had worked in towers in the 90’s so she had so many friends there that day. On top of that, she had close friends who were firefighters and police officers who responded to the scene. I’ll never forget watching my mom sobbing in front of the TV watching the news coverage. I felt so helpless like there was nothing I could do to comfort her. My parents went to a lot of funerals after that day and I’ve seen my mom cry too many times remembering her friends. The day of the trip I called her and told her I’d be visiting the memorial. She told me that around the pools they had engraved the names of those who died and she asked me if I could keep a look out for the name of one of her friends who was a firefighter who died there. My class was walking by and I kinda pulled off to the side of them to find his name. I eventually found him and broke down immediately when I saw that someone had come by and out a white rose in the spot where his name was engraved. Turns out it was his birthday the day I visited, and a woman in New York comes by every day to place a white rose in the name of those victims whose birthday was that day. It was the saddest, yet most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I just want to thank all of you who take care of the memorial. It means so much to so many people. I know it means a lot to my mom.
Thank you for sharing your touching personal experience. What a beautiful moment seeing the white rose and it also being the firefighter's birthday that same day 🤍.
I went to ny for the first time in March and visited the memorial. I was touched to see flowers on different peoples names. I was 21 that day and i wasnt touched like the rest of america because i just was living my life on the other side of the country.
Now as i watch videos on the high jacking and having visit the memorial i have a different view on what happened.
I honestly got teary-eyed reading your story. Thank you for sharing it. I'm so sorry for your mom and condolences to the friends that she lost. I visited the memorial back in 2019 for the first time and will do so this August when I visit NYC again. Although it's sad like you mention, it's my favorite part of my trip because it's beautiful that those gone are never forgotten ❤️ 🙏 🕊
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s a day that has touched so many 💛
We don't often think about all of the thankless jobs people do. Miners that excavate coal for our electricity, air traffic control making airports function, garbage men that keep our streets clean, and mail works that bring us our packages, but there are many more. It is truly amazing how we all work as a society, but many jobs are thankless.
Sorry cleaning a water feature at a memorial doesn't keep society running if they stopped today it would get a bit dirty but nothing major
@@anonymouswhite352 i think it's still commendable that guys wake up everyday and clean these pools, after all it is a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks and it is keeping their memory alive
Or us construction workers building schools every year like myself for the communities.
@@anonymouswhite352 I'm just saying that there are many thankless jobs out there that people do get recognized for
@@OfficiallySnek the thank you they recieve is being paid a wage...
James and his fellow pool masters are like the guards at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier. Lesser known and less formal but equally as committed and honorable.
They are nothing like the guards at the Tomb of the unknown Soldier. Cleaning a pool is a city job and probably belongs to a union with weekends off. Guards do not have unions, lesser pay and much more committed then you realize. The Guards make a lifetime commitment and do it 24/7, 364 days a year regardless of weather. Do your homework on the Guards and you will realize how they are not equally committed. Please do not compare the two
@@MadMeavethey are still honoring and protecting the dead souls who fell, whether it was innocent people or fallen soldiers, every human in death has a right to be honored and protected
@@Chuked I totally agree. Just don’t agree with comparing the two.
@@MadMeave yeah the guards are protecting soldiers who rape, kill and pillage while these people are honoring all the civilians who were killed because of it
@@kayzeaza these soldiers are unknown as advertised. Can you prove they did what you accuse them of? Until then, shuddy! “Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know” - unknown
Goosebumps and I love the dark, gritty shots of James at night. What many would consider a mundane task, it looks like it means so much more to him and for good reason. Glad to see great pride taken in something simple like cleaning the pool.
Zima Blue
@@brandonbarket1567 I'd rather you Ligma
What an honorable job to have. I'm so glad that people like Jim take their duty so seriously and solemnly.
He and his fellow workers are quite rightly proud of their work. I would say ...your work doesn't go unnoticed . Society would miss you before we'd miss a great many others. Respect to you all.
What a lovely man. So genuine and humble.
Came from your confetti video, and these stories that you are telling of daily life is so romantic. Keep up the great work.
Same here. I´m not american but I was delighted to see how much he puts his heart on the job that he does, specially inside this saddly gorgeous place that have such meaning for americans.
I did too. And these stories a wonderful
Thank you so much! All the recent support has been a nice push to keep on making them.
@@Limelightdocs keep it up with love Jim
@@Limelightdocs Would love to help
James, what an amazing job you do to maintain a memorial to so many that lost their lives on that day, and to all that have since. Your words were truly heartfelt. You definitely take pride and dedication in your work.
Love that the composition really showed off the vastness of the pool. 0:31 is absolutely beautiful
0:11
As an architect myself, the way this was shot harmonises so well with the architectural design motifs. James in frame, a solitary man, water and light contrasting him and the cold stone behind, reflection in solemn contemplation. Takes great eye to keep that thematic relevance of the structure itself in a video format, from a perspective other than what the designer intended.
I visited on September 11, 2013. You can't help but cry when you're there. The grounds are so sacred and you definitely feel a peaceful but somber energy there. I feel grateful for these workers taking care of the pools. God bless them.
It’s one of the first places I visited when I moved to NYC and you’re absolutely right about the energy there. I’ve been a few times now and it always feel the same.
Crazy how silent it is compared to the rest of the city
Lmao sacred
Yes, sacred. Why would you laugh at that? Blocked.
@@boss-anova wow so disrespectful. It's a sacred place where almost 3000 people died on the dirt they are built on.
The pool is made of tears. What a heartfelt vocation. Thank you
I hope James sees this and can see how much we value him and his work. It was so nice hearing about his dad's story and his own
I cant believe this channel only has 1k subscribers. Also, the shots in this video look out of a movie
Thank you!!
Sheesh this channel is growing fast! 8k now! Solid video
10k now
11.5k now. YT algorithm does it again!
11.7K now
I'm grateful I made a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum and Reflecting Pools on my first trip to NYC in 2017. It was both a highlight of my trip and a very emotional somber experience. To even try to explain to people, I break down and cry.
The one thing I did while looking at the names and into the vast emptiness was try to reach out as far as I could into the "void" and attempt to "touch" the first Tower? Even standing there, I couldn't believe that 2 buildings that once stood 110 stories each were gone? The loss was overwhelming, and I am crying as I write this.
I'm planning to go back to NYC someday and want to revisit again to honor the 2nd Tower! 😢
RIP to the thousands lost 🙏
I always wondered about this. The memorial brings so many emotions up in me. To the point I got teary watching a guy vacuum a pool.
idk why this isnt automated...
I love your documentaries. You show us the people who dont usually get the chance to say their stories to the world. Thank you
Found you at 5K,
see you at 5M.
Beautiful work, and great content.
Thank you! Fingers crossed.
your work is just so incredible, literally every shot puts me in awe. I don't know how you do it, but I appreciate that you do. Thank you for shining a light on untold stories of everyday people, it's a new kind of documentary that I'm loving.
I was just there last week. I actually wondered how the pools were maintained. Now I know. Thanks for this little insight.
When i watched your confetti video i thought i was watching a Washington post documentary or something similar, then seeing that you were a channel with only a few thousand followers was surprising but i thought not much of it. Now seeing this video im starting to get the picture that I’ve stumbled on an unbelievable example of dedicated artistry. And that feels reflected in the subjects you’ve interviewed, motivation for the good of the people. Absolutely love your work, through just two videos you’ve already found at least one super fan. Keep up the amazing work!
This is one of the kindest messages I've ever received. Thank you so much.
All of these videos are made by me, a 24 year old with a camera, and the help of some talented friends who might make the music, get a 2nd angle, or just lend a general helping hand. The full credits for all the videos are in the descriptions.
I spent many months making these videos on my off-days for the love, but eventually lost steam when they never found an audience. This recent wave of support due to the success of the Confetti film has given me hope again for the channel and I've already started planning the next few films. Thanks for watching - hopefully more documentaries coming soon for you!
@@Limelightdocs I'm sorry the RUclips algorithm cheated you. But I can say with certainty that you have earned yourself a loyal subscriber!
@@Limelightdocs Wow, amazing! Keep it up, subscribed.
WaPost make decent docs? I'll take your word for it, not that I believe it but sure pal.
@@enveloreal I think the algo's finally found him
Thank you Jim and coworkers for your hard work and dedication.
this was spectacularly done by all involved. thank you for what you do, James.
That must be such a beautiful, spiritual experience. I wouldn't mind doing that for a living at all. RIP to the victims and families affected by this infamous day.
Very touching and moving story. I had not ever thought about cleaning and maintaining these pools, but they get dirty like any other pool.
Absolutely beautiful piece. Thanks for making this and thank you for your hard work. A channel like this is just as important as the folks it shows.
When I first moved to NYC for school, ground zero was still a depressing, zoned-off pile of rubble.
Just a dark, eerie and heartbreaking reminder of the tragedy that had recently taken place and claimed so many lives there…
I hope to go back there again someday, in order to see this beautiful memorial in person.
Thank you so much, to every unsung hero who helped create and who continues to maintain this stirring piece of living history.❤
Sir, I admire you greatly. What you do every night from midnight to 8am in incredible. Some people will call it a demeaning and thankless job. You're obviously proud and I would too if I have the chance to do it. You're not just only cleaning the walls and floor of the pools. What you do is clean the site where many innocent people lost their lives. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. People that went to work that day and never came back to their love ones. You're keeping their final resting place clean and spotless, bringing dignity to those we lost that day. THANK YOU!
A touching story. The scale of the memorial is breathtaking and it will always be a very special place.
Gorgeous cinematography. And 10/10 subject - what a humble, unique individual.
What an honorable and humble man. Hope hes doing well in life. Went there on a class field trip 2013 when they were still constructing the WTC1. Beautiful sight to see those cranes looming over building a new building.
What a beautiful person he is, I hope he and his team get all the recognition they deserve for all the work they do behind the scenes making the place looking so perfect for the families of the lost, and people who come to this memorial location.
As a post 9/11 Marine corps Veteran thank you for keeping that site of memorial at its tip top shape, I was wondering if it was the city or a third party who keeps it clean but to see a person who cleans it to give tribute to their father is beyond words and is so meaningful
I used to clean the fountain pool at my local community college, other than feeling on display for any students passing through the courtyard it was a peaceful job that felt meditative.
Went to NY for the first time this year. And of everything there was to see in that city, the 9/11 pools took my breath away and left the largest impression on me more than anything else.
have you ever looked into building 7. bit strange that it basically imploded but wasnt close to the initial impact site at all
Went to the memorial a few months ago for the first time. Was in highschool right outside DC on 9/11. Very emotional experience and very humbling.
The cinematography, the storytelling, the music. Beautiful.
Absolutely great documentaries - both the cinematography as well as.. honestly, just everything about it - sound design, the voiceovers, editing, it's all wonderful
Thank you very much!
Thank you James and also to your coworkers that make the memorial clean, because of this video it makes me want to face my fears and visit in person.
This is moving. Thank you for highlighting this man and to show he and the team are appreciated.
Thank you Jim for your dedication and hard work.
I remember that day, and will never forget it.
That sequence of shot from 0:09 is just magical.... goosebumps, literally
Don't limit yourself to the title of "pool cleaner" - You keep our country strong, beautiful, and allow us to remember and reflect on all those that made the ultimate sacrifice on that terrible September day.
I remember watching the news here in England when the news flash came in as to what had happened, I was speechless, I sat the whole day watching the events unfold, it's scary to think about how much time has passed, thank you for the great job that you do and for the dedication you and your fellow workers have
The utter silence at this place is crazy. When the city around you is as noisy as it is it feels as if you’re in a dark room. The respect people have is amazing and it was a humbling place to vist.
I am so glad your videos are getting the recognition they truly deserve. You are gifted and your videos will take you places someday! All the best and happy that you are starting to blow up!
Thank you so much! It's been really exciting seeing all the growth in the past week
I didn’t have anyone who I knew at 9/11 who died there but when I visited I felt completely emotionally seeing all those names on the pools so the guys who clean them god bless you my heart go out to you
I greatly appreciate what these guys do thank you for keep our memorial clean and looking good so they continue to honor all the fallen and families. God bless.
Amazing! Another person whose work goes largely unnoticed by the general public. Thank you so much sir!
It makes me glad to know that someone does this job daily, and takes it extremely seriously.
I have visited The Reflecting Pool in DC, and it was frankly in a state of complete disrepair. It was filthy, there was a significant amount of duck waste in it. The water looked closer to a disgusting bog wrapped in concrete, rather than a point of national pride. This was in summer during peak tourism. I was shocked at how poorly it had been attended to.
The Reflecting pool gets nasty sometimes mainly because it is huge and home to a ton of birds. It used to be much worse because it used to be standing water, but they installed pumps and started circulating the water in it about a decade ago. When they do drain it to clean it it takes something like 10 days to refill.
@@ryandodd8941 That's fair, I suppose. I was pretty upset when I wrote that. It's hard to recall at times that there are practical realities to the setup. I suppose I just want that type of symbol to live up to an extraordinarily high standard.
I feel kinda bad not knowing that this job existed. A wonderful crew of people doing a great job honoring those we lost that day. Great job guys! The pool looks amazing everyday!
he is so strong. i admire his compassion and care for the reflecting pools 😢 i will always think of the souls who perished that day
This is so heart wrenching yet beautiful at the same time. Well done. Well done.
Thank you for your service, taking care of your community and giving back!!!!!
Your heart/soul and bravery dosen’t go unnoticed!!!
*”A person is a person nomatter the task.” -Suess
You do a amazing job keeping it the way you do and all the effort you guys do is a credit to those who were lost ❤❤
Thank you all for the job you do. Your efforts bring beauty out of that darkness.
Shout out to you and the other cleaners for keeping the reflecting pools clean.
The Confetti video popped up in my recommended & i just wanted to say the quality of these videos is insane compared to the amount of subscribers you have. Please keep making these, it’s only a matter of time before this channel gets big
Thank you so much! This recent push has been a huge motivation for me to keep making these
Thank you for your dedication. We are all lucky to have your service, thank you
Thank you and the other guys for what you do, and may God bless you all !!!!
that shot at 0:11 is so stunning holy shit dude!
This is the most hidden gem channel I've ever come across. Your work is truly amazing. Keep working hard.
Thank you! I absolutely will
Thank you for keeping it so beautiful and for your respect of those who died on that horrible day!😢
The vastness of the site is not even comparable to the loss of those days. Even as I was a little kid, just 7, maybe 8 years old, watching it during lunch from across the pond, live, with all the gritty details and all the confusion.. And now a grown man, visiting NYC for the first time in my life last summer, and finally being there, like some sort of closure on the event that changed the world. The day where the innocence of the 90s was buried among the tons of rubble. The day the world sobered up, became somber. In a sense, I think we never recovered. A big loss, but an even bigger impact. I will never forget how overwhelmed I was. And this humble man does his job, mostly thankless. Well, thank you, Mr. Maroon.
The trouble with RUclips is that they don't promote videos like yours better, simply because they aren't sensational. But your videos are better than 95% of the content seen on RUclips on average. Great work and keep it up.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
and the trouble with humans is that we forget about building 7.........
As a Brit, I have to say that if there is one thing that Americans do well, it is looking after public memorials and spaces. You take such great care of them.
I've not seen this memorial, but I did go to the top of the WTC twice before 9/11 - once in 1982 and again in 1999. In 1999, we stayed in the hotel at the bottom (think it was the 'Marriott World Trade Center').
We were due to visit again, but then, sadly, 9/11 happened - we already had our tickets booked to NY. We were some of the first tourists to arrive in NY after 9/11 and I've never known New Yorkers to be so welcoming to tourists - when we asked one chap where we could get a coffee, he insisted on walking us there in person, almost a block away, and it was only a Starbucks - when does that ever happen in NY?!
Oh shutup
@@eatinsomtin9984 no
This was a fantastic video. So simple and understated, yet so powerful.
This was magical, such a great story that got to be documented thanks to you, thank you.
One of the most powerful monuments I've been to. Two massive holes in the ground, you really don't realize how big they are until you're there, it almost feels like its sucking the air out of your lungs down into the hole. Really gives a sense of scale and emptiness left behind.
This may sound unpopular, but I was against the Freedom Tower from its inception. My opinion is they should have rebuilt the towers exactly where they sat, except stronger & one floor higher.
@@SloaneLasers Which would then be, literally, trying to build over a place people go to reflect.
@@Tao_Tology No, you misunderstand. I think they should have put reflecting pools or some other type of monument in a different place. Possibly between the towers.
@@SloaneLasers No I did not misunderstand.
@@Tao_Tology Since I never suggested rebuilding the North and South Towers on top of the reflecting pools, you absolutely misunderstood.
Let me explain it to you like you're five. I wish they had not built the reflecting pools and instead rebuilt the towers in the exact same spots with a monument located in a different area. Hopefully you're unconfuzed now.
This channel is incredible, very high quality work. Don't quit!
I salute the editors of this video. It's a breathtaking shortfilm that gives me shivers.
Thank you for your guys's service... too long, you guys to unseen while you push the world through life. Thank you for making our life better...
How incredible that water looks flowing down the walls. I am a veteran and a bit worn out now - but would do your job in an instant you are greatly privileged and you do an amazing job - thank you for your time and love. Not a day goes by I cannot believe that evil day happened 22 years ago. Thank you Jim.👍👏👏👏 Blessings and peace to all the lost.
its just odd that building 7 imploded and its multiple football fields away from the initial impact.
Thank you for putting so much pride and integrity into the work you do.
Beautifully done! Looking forward to following your work
Building 7, if you know ya know.
Amazing video, I love this channel. Thank you for the work you do.
I didn’t know this was a thing but now that I’m aware, I have nothing but respect to the hardworking men and women who upkeep the memorial there
honor and respect to you sir for your hard work, truly a job that deserves alot more attention.
Really well done video LimeLight! I love the concept as well as the execution. You have a very bright future ahead of you. Keep up the amazing work!
If you think about it, he's one of the few people that's able to stand in the original foot prints of the Twin Towers.
Warning: Truthers in the replies. Advise caution.
yea, and if you think about it, its kinda odd how building 7 fell
@@joem13yearsago73 Ha Ha
The main galleries of the 9/11 museum are inside the footprints, under the pools. And the PATH train tunnel passes through one of them as well.
@@blackopscw7913 no. do some research
@@joem13yearsago73 I love when 9/11 "truthers" who ignore just about everything tell everyone else to "do research"
You guys do a great job of keeping it clean and I’m sure those spirits happy. Thank you
It's a simple job but an important one, a job you can take pride in doing well. I can appreciate that, recognizing your efforts are a reflection of your person.
This man is an old soul. A gentle and caring individual.
this man needs to be protected at all costs
Yes, any moment now the secret service will assign him a full team plus keep a quick response force within 30 minutes helo ride from him.
Canadian vet here with two combat tours in Afghanistan. It's hard to look at this as it brings such painful memories into focus. That moment has had such a profound effect on so many lives.
Thank you Jim, and also the many other maintenance workers at the Memorial. ❤
These documentaries are amazingly well made.
Thank you!
Thank you guys for your work.
it never occurred to me that someone had to go down and clean the pools... what a kind man doing such an honorable job. the memorial is gorgeous (i've seen it in person). knowing there are such compassionate people willing to do the, for lack of a better term "dirty work", to keep the place looking so beautiful touches my heart. thank you for all you do, to everyone who works at and supports the memorial.
What a fantastic and moving piece. So peaceful in that pool; a real chance for reflection...
My uncle design these fountains and many other famous ones, He had it setup in his backyard for testing and I got to run through it as a kid. Not many people say that.
🧢
That would be pretty cool to see photos of what he built in the backyard to see how it started.
@@stevesolt4036 was a smaller scale setup with wood with some pipes and stuff i was young I didnt really study it. But only a wall was set up above ground of wood and as it was running I'd run in the mist/ water.