Bernard Curtis Brown II and Richard Guadagno

On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers
will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.

We will honor them by remembering their lives,
and not by remembering their murderers.

Click below to honor and to remember Bernard Curtis Brown II and Richard Guadagno -

Bernard Curtis Brown II

Bernard Brown, 11 year old honor student was embarking on a cross country school trip. He was selected for this special trip because of his excellence in school. September 11th was his first and last flight. Tragically, he was on AA Flight 77, the plane that crashed into The Pentagon. The very same building that his own father worked in. His father was not in The Pentagon that day but tragically his son lost his life there.

Brown's Tribute Legacy Page

Information regarding a Scholarship Program named in Brown's honor and sentiments from Bernard's parents

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Richard Guadagno

Richard Guadagno, a biologist who managed the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Loleta, Calif., was returning home to the West Coast after being with his family celebrating his grandmother's 100th birthday.

Guadagno, 38, was aboard the hijacked United Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.

He is remembered as being one of the heroic passengers that tried taking back Flight 93. 

He lived life to it's very fullest.

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Two beautiful people lost on September 11th.

Two people that will never be forgotten.

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Below is my version of, "Five Years Ago Today" -

It is so hard to believe that it's been five years since the world stopped spinning. In so many ways it feels like that horrible day was just yesterday. Five years ago, on Sept 11th, I was on my way to my social work internship when I first heard that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. I was listening to the "Steve and DC Radio show" and when they first said what was happening, they actually laughed because they thought it was a joke. Needless to say, the laughter stopped almost immediately when they realized it wasn't a joke after all. Soon after, the station switched to CBS news radio for the continuing and extensive coverage.

Immediately, I started to think about and worry about my husband. On Sept 11th, he was to fly from the St Louis Airport to Washington DC for a week long trip for work. His flight was that morning and I had no idea if he had already gotten onto the plane before they announced they were stopping future flights. I had no idea how to get a hold of him and was pretty much in a panic state. Especially once I arrived at my internship and heard the horrible news that a plane crashed into The Pentagon in Washington DC. I was so fearful that something would happen to Kevin's plane as well since it was headed for Washington DC. At the time I was 3 months pregnant with our first child, Nathan. Once they announced all flights were canceled, my co-workers tried to console me and told me that he was probably just stuck at the airport and probably trying to get a hold of me.

That day, my work agenda was to go with a fellow case manager to St Louis. We were taking a couple of our disabled clients to St Louis to enjoy some of the sites. It was actually a big day for our department and our clients. One of the clients we were taking with us had never been to St Louis and very recently had left her home for the first time in decades. She suffered from many social phobias. So this outing and day was a big deal for her. We decided to go ahead and stick with the plan and I was just hoping that somehow I would hear from Kevin at some point during the day. Luckily, my husband made his way to my internship to see if he could get a hold of me to tell me he was okay. They called my co-workers cell phone as we were headed to downtown St Louis so that he could tell me he was ok. I was so relieved and felt so fortunate that Kevin's flight was canceled and he was not going anywhere that week. Needless to say, we bought cell phones very soon after that experience since we had so much trouble getting a hold of one another.

The whole day my coworker and I tried to act as upbeat as possible so the day wouldn't be ruined for our clients. For the most part, neither one of them had any idea what was going on because of their disabilities. Basically in between going places, we tried to get as much information as possible through the radio. I couldn't wait for the day to end so Kevin and I could be together. My night class ended up being canceled for obvious reasons. There was no way people could concentrate in a class and there was no way the professor could have lectured like it was a normal day.

For months on end, I was glued to the television and shed many tears for all the innocent lives lost. My heart breaks for the thousands, if not millions, of people whose lives were destroyed that day. It breaks my heart to think about all the children who lost mommies or daddies that day. It is so unimaginable and unfair. My heart breaks for all those who lost spouses, friends, sons, daughters, and relatives. It seems so unreal and yet it is real. I can't imagine how hard this day is for so many people. Without a doubt, on Sept 11th we all found out the true definition of what a hero is. Today and always, I will remember all those who lost their lives trying to save and help other people.

My husband and I were watching a documentary on MSNBC about some of the lives that were affected by Sept 11th. One of the lives lost that horrible day was of an 11 year old boy. This little boy was on the plane that hit The Pentagon. He was on his way to a school competition that he had been selected for because of his excellence in school. It was his first and last flight.

He had no family with him that horrible day, only school officials. I can't imagine how scared this little boy was without family and to think he lost his life because he was being recognized for excellence in school. It is so unfair and heartbreaking. What makes this story even more gut wrenching is that his father was employed by The Pentagon. His father lost many close friends that day and his son died in the plane that crashed into his building. To say my husband and I were in complete shock and disbelief is an understatement.

I can not even begin to imagine the pain that father (and mother) will always suffer. I wept for hours thinking of their tragic lost. That little boys face and story will literally be with me forever.

God Bless all of those whose lives were destroyed five years ago
today....

Click here for the September 11th victims website.

Click here to learn more about the beautiful people lost on September 11th, 2001.

May they never be forgotten.

That day, my work agenda was to go with a fellow case manager to St Louis. We were taking a couple of our disabled clients to St Louis to enjoy some of the sites. It was actually a big day for our department and our clients. One of the clients we were taking with us had never been to St Louis and very recently had left her home for the first time in decades. She suffered from many social phobias. So this outing and day was a big deal for her. We decided to go ahead and stick with the plan and I was just hoping that somehow I would hear from Kevin at some point during the day. Luckily, my husband made his way to my internship to see if he could get a hold of me to tell me he was okay. They called my co-workers cell phone as we were headed to downtown St Louis so that he could tell me he was ok. I was so relieved and felt so fortunate that Kevin's flight was canceled and he was not going anywhere that week. Needless to say, we bought cell phones very soon after that experience since we had so much trouble getting a hold of one another.

The whole day my coworker and I tried to act as upbeat as possible so the day wouldn't be ruined for our clients. For the most part, neither one of them had any idea what was going on because of their disabilities. Basically in between going places, we tried to get as much information as possible through the radio. I couldn't wait for the day to end so Kevin and I could be together. My night class ended up being canceled for obvious reasons. There was no way people could concentrate in a class and there was no way the professor could have lectured like it was a normal day.

For months on end, I was glued to the television and shed many tears for all the innocent lives lost. My heart breaks for the thousands, if not millions, of people whose lives were destroyed that day. It breaks my heart to think about all the children who lost mommies or daddies that day. It is so unimaginable and unfair. My heart breaks for all those who lost spouses, friends, sons, daughters, and relatives. It seems so unreal and yet it is real. I can't imagine how hard this day is for so many people. Without a doubt, on Sept 11th we all found out the true definition of what a hero is. Today and always, I will remember all those who lost their lives trying to save and help other people.

My husband and I were watching a documentary on MSNBC about some of the lives that were affected by Sept 11th. One of the lives lost that horrible day was of an 11 year old boy. This little boy was on the plane that hit The Pentagon. He was on his way to a school competition that he had been selected for because of his excellence in school. It was his first and last flight.

He had no family with him that horrible day, only school officials. I can't imagine how scared this little boy was without family and to think he lost his life because he was being recognized for excellence in school. It is so unfair and heartbreaking. What makes this story even more gut wrenching is that his father was employed by The Pentagon. His father lost many close friends that day and his son died in the plane that crashed into his building. To say my husband and I were in complete shock and disbelief is an understatement.

I can not even begin to imagine the pain that father (and mother) will always suffer. I wept for hours thinking of their tragic lost. That little boys face and story will literally be with me forever.

God Bless all of those whose lives were destroyed five years ago
today....

Comments

[Suzi]

Thank you for your post, your tribute, and your personal recollection. We should not forget. We should not forget Bernard and Richard.

Another person we should not forget is Laura Gilly.

[Stephanie]

Thank you for posting your memories. So many lives affected and it is something that will remain with all of us for the rest of our lives. I am sure glad that Kevin never got on a plane that day.

[Sue]

A very moving post. That little boy's story is just heartbreaking.

I can only imagine how scared you were that morning, not knowing if Kevin had caught the flight or not.

That day and all those who lost their lives or their loved ones will never be forgotten.

[Becca]

Oh Kelly, thank you for this. To remember what you went though, and the time you took to remember these precious people is wonderful. Thanks for not letting us forget.

I remember Jerry DeVito.

Love you!
Becca

[Island Girl]

Thank you for this post.
They will never be forgotten.

I remember Dennis J. Pierce

[Becca]

Holly helped me unpasswowrd my site to share DeVito. Please go here to view info about this special man.

http://vocationalgrace.typepad.com/trinity/2006/09/jerry_devito_we.html

[Becca]

I think if you click on my name, you can get into my blog and see info on DeVito. I think my PW is off for today.

[Monica C.]

Thank you for this post. What an incredibly sad and tragic day. Today is a day to rememember those whose lives were lost and their families. God bless us all!!