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American Lives: The Stories of the Men and Women Lost on September 11

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American Lives: The Stories Of The Men And Women Lost On September 11 provides a bibliography of the men and women who lost their lives on Stepember 11th, recounting their achievements, their family ties, and how they came to be victims of disaster. American Lives is an outstanding tribute which brings to life their stories and those they left behind.

Remember and Reflect
By Dr. John Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE
September 7 , 2011

American Lives: The Stories Of The Men And Women Lost On September 11


It is now the first week in September, 2011 and we in the United States are paying particular attention to the upcoming 10th anniversary of what is simply referred to here as " 9-11". It will be replayed in our media often and there will be many rebroadcasts of the four actual plane crashes and the destruction of buildings and people's lives.

I have had this book for almost a year - I found it at a used book sale for a dollar. I almost passed it by, but was genuinely moved by the collection of personal stories by the staff of Newsday and the Tribune company. New York author Jimmy Breslin opened the book with his personal observations and interpretations.

The book itself is an oversized paperback of under 200 pages and is divided into five sections:

Little Brother, You're MVP in our hearts, and as sub-sections includes
1. last phone calls
2. love stories
3. FDNY and
4. lost promises

The first into heaven
5. they died together
6. rescuers
7. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers
8. on the planes

A Husband is Missing No More
9. High Finance
10. New Americans
11. In the Pentagon

A Man of Unusual Disposition
12. free spirits
13. tower people
14. legacies

The List of the Lost
World Trade Center Occupants
Pentagon
Emergency/Rescue Personnel
American Airline Flight #11 -WTC North Tower
United Airliners Flight #175 -WTC South Tower
American Airlines Flight # 77 - Pentagon
United Airlines Flight #93 - Pennsylvania

9-11 marked the first time the USA had been successfully attacked on its own soil in an undeclared war by terrorists and it changed the country forever in many ways. Innocent civilians of all religions, professions, ages and activities were affected in ways not imagined before.

This is a mini-biography of the some of the men and women who lost their lives on that day. Some of what really moved me were the titles in the stories.

You will understand without even reading the full story:

Robert, there's another plane coming
Dad, I gotta go. There's smoke in here now
Take care of my kids
She still lives in his dreams
She opened up his world
A recovered ring completes a circle of life
He made every day a party
That day, she learned she was pregnant
After 20 years, they still held hands
A hero by any definition
He ignored his own order to flee
firefighting was all he talked about
He dreamed of a school for autistic kids
She beat Hodgkin's and eased others pains
Her family's first college graduate
Death in a place of prayer
They knew what was important
She kept going back in
A rescuer who wouldn't be stopped
A coach who brought out kid's potential
Her husband watched her disappear
She tried to block the cockpit
The man who said "let's roll"
He stayed to check on an elderly colleague
A cool army vet who helped others evacuate
He saved his wife, but not himself
A son is born as a father is mourned

and probably 200 more headings and stories

9-11 marked the first time the USA had been successfully attacked on its own soil in an undeclared war by terrorists and it changed the country forever in many ways. Innocent civilians of all religions, professions, ages and activities were affected in ways not imagined before.

My team and I were delivering a workshop out of state on that day, and the 100% closing of all airports, some roads, many government and business centers was an eerie sensation for the week that followed. In the years since that day, on those times when I am interacting with groups and others on September 11th, I make sure we take that moment of silence to remember and reflect.

I encourage you to watch the following You Tube

When the World Stopped Turning: A 9/11 tribute
[...]

By Dr. John Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE
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