2996 Tribute Project
Missy’s joined in
Missy’s decided to join the 2996 Tribute Project. She was worried they wouldn’t accept her because she’s only 11, but when I explained that the sign up never asked for my age or anything, she signed up enthusiastically. Interestingly, I was blogger number 2593 to sign up and Missy was blogger 2953. Only 46 more to go! If you haven’t already signed up, please (quickly) consider doing so. Please note, you do not get to “choose” who you will honor, your tributee will be assigned to you. Which is going to make what you’re about to read even more coincidental. 
What’s it all about?
On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Each person will pay tribute to a single victim. We will honor them by remembering their lives, and not by remembering their murderers. Enough has been written about their murderers and about the way they died.
Putting a face on 9/11
For me, there are four people whose names and faces came to my mind immediately when I heard about this project.
The first one is Lisa Frost. Lisa was the niece of my dear friend Janie. I was talking to Janie the morning that this all happened, long before she learned that Lisa was on the second plane, United 175, the one that hit the WTC live on television. Every time I see the footage again, the reality hits me that Lisa died in that instant, while her aunt and I watched helplessly, not knowing how very personal it was about to become for one of us.
Lisa Aris Frost will be honored by blogger Sean Gavin at The Holding Pattern.
The second person who came to mind actually goes hand in hand with the third and fourth. A very early article I was reading on the lives lost that day showed pictures of some of the victims. One photo leapt off the page at me, it was a beautiful little girl and her mom. Maybe because Missy wasn’t much older than the little girl at the time and they somewhat resembled each other, for whatever reason, the picture tugged at my heart in a way none of the others had.
The photo in question was of Ruth McCourt and her daughter Juliana, who was only four years old. Like Lisa, they were on Flight 175. As I looked at the photograph, I sat there wondering if they knew what was going to happen. Did Ruth know they were about to die, and what did she say to her little girl? Did Juliana understand what was happening? Did Ruth try to shield her from it? Did she lie to her? Did she tell her she loved her and just hold her tight when it happened? Did she know that Paige’s plane had already crashed? The questions ate at me for months, they bother me still.
I did a lot of reading up on the McCourts at the time, I guess it was morbid curiosity or something. I learned that Ruth’s best friend (Paige Farley-Hackel – at right) was on the other plane, United 11 — they’d intended to fly out together, but wound up on different planes when Paige realized she could use frequent flyer miles for her flight, but only if she took flight 11 instead. As best friends, they frequently traveled together. They were on their way to California, and part of their trip included a visit to Disneyland for Juliana. They joked that if one of the planes went down, at least one of them would survive. I couldn’t help but imagine the profound sadness Ruth and Paige must have felt when they met up in Heaven.
Perhaps ironically, Ruth’s brother was in one of the tower buildings on 9/11. He made it out of the building safely, unaware that his sister and niece were in the second plane.
More than any other victims, Ruth and Julianna came to define the absolute senselessness of 9/11 for me.
Paying Tribute
Juliana will be honored by Jamie Dawn at Jamie Dawn’s Mindless Blather.
Paige Farley-Hackel will be remembered by Derek of Gwinn & Bear It.
Juliana’s mom, Ruth, will be paid tribute by yours truly. I hope to find the words to make Ruth as real and vibrant to each of you as she’s been to me in the five years since 9/11.
Missy will honor David William Nelson, a senior Vice President for Carr Futures who was in the World Trade Center.
She’s already started researching Mr. Nelson, she has a stack of sites bookmarked and has begun making notes. She’s spent the last 40 minutes scouring the web for a site run by any of his family members, she hopes to get a better photo of him and find out what kind of a person he was from someone who actually knew him.
List of participating blogs and the victim each will honor on 9/11
If you knew one of these 2,996 people, please consider contacting the blogger and providing any insight, contacts, resources or photographs you may have to help them in their tribute.
August 28th, 2006 at 15:50
Here\’s another flight related incident you might want to \”report\” on. I love how you think your a reporter and not just another loser with a blog.
Flight 5191: Fools Never Saw it Coming!
The victims of Flight 5191, which went down on August 27, 2006, must have burnt to a crisp. It must have been painful as people like Charles Lykins of Florida burnt to a nice, tasty crisp.
Apparently, the pilot, Jeffrey Clay went down the wrong runway. Sounds like a suicide mission. W00t.
It must have been painful as these people burned to a slow death. Randy Towles from Watertown, New York didn\’t make it, either. Wonder if he screamed as he died?
Even precious 16 year old Paige Winters from Kansas didn\’t make it to be a knocked up, single mom– after all, she has a real slutty smile. Maybe she should have quit horsing around!
Out of all the people on the plane, only one made it out alive. James M. Polehinke will likely soon suffer from survivor\’s guilt. Who wants to lay odds that he suicides himself within 72 hours?
All that can be said here is: tough toenails, losers.
Its okay you missed your chance at a noble Katey or should I say Vanessa?
August 28th, 2006 at 18:55
Can someone please take out the garbage on this thread…? It smells like trollspew in here.
–TwoDragons
August 28th, 2006 at 19:24
What a wonderfully sympathetic person you are. I bet your mom’s real proud of you. Why don’t you walk upstairs from the basement and ask her?
Freaking loser.
And who the hell is Vanessa?
August 28th, 2006 at 23:39
I echo Kate’s sentiment here. Who the hell is Vanessa?
August 29th, 2006 at 01:12
Hi Kate- Thanks for providing the link for the 2,996 project. I was in touch with you about a year ago re: my ID dd and feising and have followed your blog since. My college graduating class lost a much loved classmate on 9/11, and I was thrilled to see that someone (a student nurse) will be honoring her on that day. It really brings it all back, y’know? Anyway, thanks for providing the link. I will sign up to honor a fellow American as well.
August 29th, 2006 at 05:02
Hey, “MAC,”
Did you get Michael Crook’s permission to use his text (without attribute or link, no less) when you made that post? Wouldn’t want to violate the DMCA by stealing his copyrighted crapola, now would you?
For anyone interested, Crook’s diatribe, exactly as presented above by “MAC” can be found here: Michael Crook’s newest website.
On his little blog, he refers to the victims as “Kentucky Fried People.” He’s such a sensitive guy.
September 11th, 2006 at 08:46
Guess Who,
You are a sick individual.
Kate,
Thank you for your kind remarks on my tribute to Lisa. I have read both your tribute and that written by your daughter. Well done to both of you.
November 20th, 2006 at 00:25
FUCK YOU. you have no fucking clue what you are talking about and you have NO right what-so-ever saying that shit about ANY of those people. you have no clue how much pain you just caused me with your two sentences of nonsense. there is no way you are a person. paige winters was my best friend since i was 6. this has been the worst few months of my life and all i wanted was to get online two days before my birthday, which she has never missed and always did something special for me, and read nice things people wrote about her. how do you think i feel coming across this? YOU did not know her, unfortunately. YOU did not have the privelage of knowing her and for that, i am terribly sorry. luckily, i don’t know you and i couldn’t be happier that she never knew you, you selfless bastard. you have no heart or sympathy. i hope some day you grow up and realize what a fucking idiot you are.
November 20th, 2006 at 01:39
*blinkblink*
Uh…Anne? Wrong thread.
November 20th, 2006 at 10:25
HDD – she’s referring to “Guess Who’s” bullshit up there that was copied from Piece of Shit Crook’s website. Paige Winters was one of the young victims of that plane crash in August.
November 20th, 2006 at 21:57
Guess who you are one sad son of a bitch if you have to say something so mean about such a nice girl. paige was one of my closest friends and i do not see why anybody would ever say anything like that. you have no right to be saying that bullshit when you had not even met her. she happened to be one of the most caring and loving individuals in our community. you dont even have enough balls to give your name or any information about you. anne is also one of my best friends and i would just like to say thanks for making her birthday even worse you fucker. i hope that someday you not be such a pussy, and show your real face. one last tip dueche bag, dont talk shit if your too scared to back it up
November 20th, 2006 at 21:59
Guess who you are one sad son of a bitch if you have to say something so mean about such a nice girl. paige was one of my closest friends and i do not see why anybody would ever say anything like that. you have no right to be saying that bullshit when you had not even met her. she happened to be one of the most caring and loving individuals in our community. you dont even have enough balls to give your name or any information about you. anne is also one of my best friends and i would just like to say thanks for making her birthday even worse you fucker. i hope that someday you not be such a pussy, and show your real face. one last tip dueche bag, dont talk shit if your too scared to back it up
September 1st, 2007 at 23:58
anne and neal, i am so sorry for the pain this site has caused you. i know how it must feel to lose her. i barely knew Paige, but what i do know is that she was caring, nice, funny, and all-around amazing. i wish i could write something to make you feel better, but i know the pain will never go away; i just want you two to both know i feel it with you, too. do not cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
love always,
sam
September 2nd, 2007 at 01:13
Hey Sam, *this site* didn’t cause anyone any pain about Paige. A comment left on this site by someone else caused pain. Do me a favor and clarify next time you comment, mmkay?
September 2nd, 2007 at 03:26
Uh, “Guess who” or MAC or whoever the hell you are, you really need to get a life. I wonder if MAC is Michael Asshat Crook’s initials.