As everyone knows, September 11, 2001 was a day of long suffering and sorrow. 2, 996 men and women lost their lives in a senseless attack on the World Trade Center, as well as the Pentagon. Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I'm most interested in making people laugh and be happy. Today, with this post, I must move away from that normal theme and take amoment to reflect upon those who lost their lives on this day five years ago.
I won't spend much time on my own recollections of the events of that day. The purpose of this tribute is not to draw attention to the specific events of that day. Doing so will only remind us of the evil that inspired them. I will only say that I was just as shocked and horrified as most of the rest of our country was. Initially, the media tried to say that this was some bizarre accident. Even before the second tower was hit, I knew what was going on. I don't know how, I just did. It was a sad day for everyone.
2,996 people died on that day. The events affected far more than that, though. Every single citizen of the U.S. had their lives changed. Everyone was affected. Even if we didn't personally know someone who was directly involved in the attack, we were all affected.
Earlier this year, a man by the name of D. Challener Roe took it upon himself to form a tribute to those who died in the attack. He calls it simply 2,996. I sigend on early, and I was asked to mark a special tribute to Matthew David Yarnell. I don't know if I'm going to do this right. I'm sure there are far better tributes out there. My talents lie in writing things that are funny or require me to make up the stories. I'm not good about writing tributes. But I will try.
I don't know much about this man, except that he - like many people in our own lives - was a special person to his family and his girlfriend. He worked on the 97th floor of Tower Two as an Assistant Vice President for Fiduciary Trust Company. He was 26 years old.
He was a beloved brother to his siblings, and he related well with them. He and his girlfriend, Angela Tsuei, were talking of marriage. They planned on getting an apartment together in Manhattan. They parted ways that morning with a kiss.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Matthew Yarnell first worked for a firm in New Jersey before joining Fiduciary Trust. Matthew enjoyed his work, which sometimes required him to travel to London. He saw his new job as one filled with opportunity.
I can only imagine what it is like for the people directly involved in the events that took place on this day five years ago. The closest I ever came was listening to the whole thing on the radio and having a friend who was just a few blocks away from the towers when they were hit. My prayers goes out to those who have lost friends, relatives, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers in this trajedy. I'm certain that Matthew will always have a special place in the lives of those he affected most. He will not be forgotten.
May we never forget the lives that were lost on this day.
For more tributes, please visit here. If you have trouble viewing Mr. Roe's web site directly, you can see the list of tribute writers here, as well.
20 responses so far ↓
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1 Jen // Sep 11, 2006 at 11:58 am
Thank you for sharing his story with us all.
I Remember Anna Williams Allison
2 Angeline // Sep 11, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Thank you for your tribute - I remembered Capt Joseph Farrelly -http://tagteam_of_2_jerzydevils.blogspot.com/
3 erin // Sep 11, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Thank you for your tribute.
I am proudly remembering Shawn Edward Bowman at the-looney-bin.blogspot.com
Erin
4 anne // Sep 11, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Well done. Thank you for sharing that Schade.
5 Laura // Sep 11, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for remembering Matthew. I remember Thomas Patrick Farrelly.
6 amerimeximadre // Sep 11, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Thanks for adding to the tribute. Today I remember Susan L. Blair. http://mayhem-in-mexico.blogspot.com/2006/09/i-remember-susan-l-blair-september.html
7 Kate // Sep 11, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Thank you for sharing Matthew’s story.
Jonathon’s Closet remembers Robert Levine.
8 Teena // Sep 11, 2006 at 5:42 pm
What a lovely tribute! Thank you for participating. These people are no longer just a name to us anymore.
Mine’s up.
9 Bobbie // Sep 11, 2006 at 8:15 pm
That was beautiful! Thank you for sharing. My tribute for William T. Dean is posted at http://justonecrazylady.blogspot.com/
10 Krystn // Sep 11, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Thank you for sharing a part of his life with us
Faina’s tribute
11 Jennifer // Sep 11, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Thank you for introducing me to Matthew. At twenty-six it seems he had his entire life ahead of him. You did a great job with his tribute and it will help me to always remember him…
12 Valerie // Sep 11, 2006 at 10:41 pm
Thank you for caring. He is real to me now.
13 Kate // Sep 11, 2006 at 10:42 pm
Thank you for letting us get to know him a little bit, so that he can live on in our memories forever. I don’t think you need to worry about whether or not you were up to writing a tribute — this one is wonderful.
I’m proud to have been a part of the 2996 blogger family with you.
14 WriterDude // Sep 12, 2006 at 12:27 am
Shadeboy, you got me into this… thanks. I’m honored to have been a part, even though it tore me just a little bit apart, again.
I remembered Richard Bruehert.
15 Max // Sep 12, 2006 at 6:17 am
Thank you for writing this lovely tribute to Matthew. You have honored his life and memory and I’m sure his family would be proud.
I remember Lt. Charles William Garbarini.
16 Shelli // Sep 12, 2006 at 7:01 am
You did an awesome job, Schade. I honored William Howard Donovan Jr..
17 Pentha // Sep 12, 2006 at 7:21 am
Sigh…
Tribute to Christopher Paul Slattery
18 Kristy // Sep 13, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Wonderful Tribute! Thanks for putting a face to the number.
I remember Simon Weiser
19 Cathy // Sep 16, 2006 at 5:42 am
As I read through the memorials for those lost on that awful day,I am struck by the fact that these were “everyday people”. By that I mean… they could have been my neighbors, co-workers, family and friends. They were all living their lives. The tributes that upset me the most are the ones of the young with a life with promising potential. And all that potential has been stolen- stolen from those closest to Matt Yarnell- stolen from all of us.
Thank you for this fitting tribute.
I remember Marion Britton.
I will NEVER FORGET.
20 butterflygirl // Sep 23, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Thanks for remembering.
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