While the lights are literally breaking through the cloud, they're also symbolic of how New Yorkers (and Americans) banded together and broke through the aftermath of that tragic day.

This is one of my favorite photos. People seem drawn to the cloud and everyone interprets it differently, like the spirits of those lost or an explosion.

Some have commented that the cloud disrupts the sense of peace that the lights were intended for. Maybe that's why this photo is so effective.