Glyn Davies, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy, said it was fitting that London was chosen as the first location for the exhibition's launching in Europe because "this nation and this city really poured out its heart in a huge way to New York after September 11." Shortly after the attack, he said, 50,000 people came "over the course of just 10 days" to offer their condolences at a special center set up in Grosvenor Square near the embassy, "which was absolutely the most incredible tribute, I think, on the part of Londoners and Britons to the United States."

"Joel Meyerowitz captures the resilience and the spirit of Americans and of freedom-loving people everywhere. His images remind the viewer of the true face of terrorism and its threat to humankind -- a threat that must be combated"
Assistant Secretary of State Patricia S. Harrison

Robert Macdonald, director of the Museum of the City of New York, which is sponsoring Meyerowitz's photo project, told the audience the pictures capture "the cathedral-like atmosphere of Ground Zero; [and] of the city coming back." While the exhibition is a witness and photographic record of the physical devastation caused by the terrorist attacks, he said, "it also reaffirms the resolve of the American people to overcome their grief at the loss of human life and their determination to preserve the values that are central to our democracy.""

"I think it's a very realistic depiction of what happened -- it brought it all back to me. The 17 acres of twisted steel, which was terrible to view, became a place of inspiration when you saw the rescuers who were digging through the rubble with their hands,"
Captain Daniel Daly, New York Fire Department

Joel Meyerowitz said: "It is a privilege to work at Ground Zero. Everyone who works there has been transformed by the spirituality of the place. The camaraderie among the workers there has been transformed by the spirituality of the place. The camaraderie among the workers in the zone reminds me of the stories we've heard about the world wars, where men and women are thrown together by a common cause, share tragedies and victories, and are forever bound to one another by their effort."