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Lest We Forget
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
–Lt.-Col. John McCrae
11 November 2008 is the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember them.
Here is how Canada marks the day: Day of Remembrance.
The company I work for started a "Company Name Here" Remembrance site which any employee can contribute to by way of stories of military service. This year I submitted a piece about my father-in-law.
I am astounded by the dedication and service of so many of my work colleagues and their families. Some of their stories are literally mind boggling; like the 23 year old Major who was decorated with the Victoria Cross (the highest military honour in Britain) and the Military Cross. He died at age 23 during WW1.
Both Matt and I felt something in our eyes after reading the story of this young man:
"In July 2006, my daughter Martina was engaged to be married to Justin Patton, an American. The attached photo is of my daughter and Justin at the time of their engagement. At the time, he was a Private First Class in the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood Texas. In October 2006 Justin was posted to Taji, Iraq, just to the northwest of Baghdad. During the next few months, the seriousness of the situation became clear as the battle reports would sometimes arrive in our home in the middle of the night on my daughter's cell phone. This also brought increasing concern as the fighting seemed to be intensifying with the US troop surge in Baghdad.
On February 17, 2007 our worst fears became a horrible reality. Justin was killed in action in a suburb of Baghdad by a sniper. He was not my son, but still I have no words to describe his loss or the pain my daughter feels. My heart still aches for my Daughter, and for Justin's family in Michigan. Justin was 24 years old. We will never forget."
Another one of my colleagues served in Rwanda:
I had served on 2 peacekeeping missions. In 1993 I served in Cambodia for 7 months where I was involved with organizing and executing free elections for Cambodians as well as assisting in the removal of land mines left by decades of war.
I also served in Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide. During my six months in Rwanda I took part in providing humanitarian relief for hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced from Rwanda and surrounding countries. I also took part in the gathering and transporting of war criminals for the local authorities as well as providing security within Rwanda for those who needed it.
In 1998, I took part in the Swiss Air Recovery in Peggy's Cove, NS.
These are some of the many stories of service and sacrifice. I thank them all.
They Shall not grow old
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
we will remember them.
–R.L. Binyon
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
–Lt.-Col. John McCrae
11 November 2008 is the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember them.
Here is how Canada marks the day: Day of Remembrance.
The company I work for started a "Company Name Here" Remembrance site which any employee can contribute to by way of stories of military service. This year I submitted a piece about my father-in-law.
I am astounded by the dedication and service of so many of my work colleagues and their families. Some of their stories are literally mind boggling; like the 23 year old Major who was decorated with the Victoria Cross (the highest military honour in Britain) and the Military Cross. He died at age 23 during WW1.
Both Matt and I felt something in our eyes after reading the story of this young man:
"In July 2006, my daughter Martina was engaged to be married to Justin Patton, an American. The attached photo is of my daughter and Justin at the time of their engagement. At the time, he was a Private First Class in the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood Texas. In October 2006 Justin was posted to Taji, Iraq, just to the northwest of Baghdad. During the next few months, the seriousness of the situation became clear as the battle reports would sometimes arrive in our home in the middle of the night on my daughter's cell phone. This also brought increasing concern as the fighting seemed to be intensifying with the US troop surge in Baghdad.
On February 17, 2007 our worst fears became a horrible reality. Justin was killed in action in a suburb of Baghdad by a sniper. He was not my son, but still I have no words to describe his loss or the pain my daughter feels. My heart still aches for my Daughter, and for Justin's family in Michigan. Justin was 24 years old. We will never forget."
Another one of my colleagues served in Rwanda:
I had served on 2 peacekeeping missions. In 1993 I served in Cambodia for 7 months where I was involved with organizing and executing free elections for Cambodians as well as assisting in the removal of land mines left by decades of war.
I also served in Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide. During my six months in Rwanda I took part in providing humanitarian relief for hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced from Rwanda and surrounding countries. I also took part in the gathering and transporting of war criminals for the local authorities as well as providing security within Rwanda for those who needed it.
In 1998, I took part in the Swiss Air Recovery in Peggy's Cove, NS.
These are some of the many stories of service and sacrifice. I thank them all.
They Shall not grow old
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
we will remember them.
–R.L. Binyon
17 comments
In Memory of David Berray
The life of David M. Berray, a dapper businessman and a devoted, tirelessly energetic family man, was ended on September the 11th, 2001. He lives on in the heart of his wife, Alison, and his daughter Lauren and son Lachlan.
While he still had his life, David lived it to the fullest, with a sense of joy and tremendous energy. He was a classy guy who liked Sinatra, scotch, and swing dancing. He had recently climbed Mount Fuji with Alison. Here's a wonderful tribute to him at the Yale Daily News.
He was attending the Waters Financial Technology Conference at the top of WTC 1, the North Tower, in the Windows on the World restaurant. Windows was the highest-grossing restaurant in the United States, bringing in nearly $38 million in 2000. The Falling Man, who may have been Jonathan Briley, jumped from Windows on the World to his death to escape the smoke and flames.
David Berray was the chief operating officer at MoneyLine, an internet financial services provider.
A proud David Berray with his beautiful family:
He didn't work in the World Trade Center, but amazingly, he was also in the lobby of the building in 1993 when its underground garage was truck-bombed by Islamic terrorists, and he managed to escape without injury. 6 people were killed and over a thousand people were injured in that attack.
The New York Times published the following profile of him:
The loss of David Berray is sorely felt by his family, his colleagues, and his country. We can honor him best by remembering him, and not forgetting the terrible crime that took his life. I'm playing some Sinatra in his memory today.
These tributes to victims of the attacks on 9/11 are a part of the 2996 project.
While he still had his life, David lived it to the fullest, with a sense of joy and tremendous energy. He was a classy guy who liked Sinatra, scotch, and swing dancing. He had recently climbed Mount Fuji with Alison. Here's a wonderful tribute to him at the Yale Daily News.
He was attending the Waters Financial Technology Conference at the top of WTC 1, the North Tower, in the Windows on the World restaurant. Windows was the highest-grossing restaurant in the United States, bringing in nearly $38 million in 2000. The Falling Man, who may have been Jonathan Briley, jumped from Windows on the World to his death to escape the smoke and flames.
David Berray was the chief operating officer at MoneyLine, an internet financial services provider.
A proud David Berray with his beautiful family:
He didn't work in the World Trade Center, but amazingly, he was also in the lobby of the building in 1993 when its underground garage was truck-bombed by Islamic terrorists, and he managed to escape without injury. 6 people were killed and over a thousand people were injured in that attack.
The New York Times published the following profile of him:
David M. Berray had a "to do" list that was extraordinary, his wife, Alison Berray, said.And Fred Carroll wrote this about him in the Daily Press:
"He'd write down everything from taking out the trash to fly fishing on the Housatonic River in Connecticut to climbing Mt. Fuji. He'd get up very early in the morning and start the list."
Mr. Berray managed to accomplish just about all of the things he planned. The Berrays spent five years in Hong Kong and they rarely passed an idle moment.
They boated down the Mekong River, fished in Canton and hiked in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Once they went to New Zealand, where the summer days stretch dangerously long.
"Giving David 16 hours a day of sunlight was exhausting," Mrs. Berray said.
"It would be ten o'clock at night, the sun would still be up and David would ask, 'What do you want to do next?' "
Despite his abundant energy, Mr. Berray, 39, managed to take time off to stay home when each of his two children were born.
He had earned a master's degree from M.I.T. in technology management in 2000 and after a dozen years in banking, became chief operations officer for MoneyLine, an Internet based financial services company.
On Sept. 11, he was attending a technology seminar at Windows on The World.
David Berray was a man of many interests.This is a quilt square in his memory.
He designed and built a flagstone terrace for his parents. He planned to read a historical novel about each of the nation's presidents.
He graduated from two prestigious master's degree programs -- one focused on finance and the other on technology management.
He climbed Mount Fuji and went fly-fishing in Australia and Canada. He took paternity leave when his children -- daughter Lauren, 3, and son Lachlan, 1, -- were born.
He liked to say he would rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.
Berray, 39, was the younger of two brothers. He lived in Manhattan with his wife of 12 years, Alison, and their children.
He left his job as business manager overseeing operations in 12 Asian countries for a banking company to become the chief operating officer for MoneyLine, an Internet financial-services provider.
He was attending a business seminar in the Windows on the World restaurant atop the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
"He lived everyday to the fullest," Alison said. "Work was work. Then he came home to his family and books and friends."
The loss of David Berray is sorely felt by his family, his colleagues, and his country. We can honor him best by remembering him, and not forgetting the terrible crime that took his life. I'm playing some Sinatra in his memory today.
These tributes to victims of the attacks on 9/11 are a part of the 2996 project.
20 comments
Kit with a Smile like Sunrise
I wish I’d known her; she has a wonderful smile.
Her name was Kathleen, “Kit,” Faragher.
Her pictures show a very attractive woman---not conventionally beautiful, but dark-haired, dark-eyed, with a strong chin and glowing complexion, her expression radiating humor and confidence. When you look at her, you just want to smile back. It’s a face like a sunrise.
Yes, we know, all too well, that the camera can lie, that pictures can mislead, but, in Kit’s case, it was telling the truth for once; she really did seem to have been the smiling, sunrise-happy woman you see in her photo. Mark Evans, an organizer for the Gender-Blender Co-ed Frisbee Tournament which Kit participated in said she inspired everyone with her verve and energy. Her sister Beth said that people liked being with Kit, that she was “Good people.” Her best friend, Emily, said Kit loved man and beast with an open heart and mind, and treated everyone with respect, love and kindness---even when she was mad at them!
Kit grew up in Russell Township, Ohio. Her parents were William and Beverly Faragher. She had two brothers, William and Jim, and two sisters, Mary Waterman and Beth Faragher. A nice, big family!
She attended West Geauga High School, but spent her senior year at Boca Raton, Florida High School. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with degrees in business and computer information systems. Not just attractive, but smart, too!
She became a computer programmer for the Janus Capital Corporation, in Denver. She had a boyfriend who went by the nic, Mojo and who wanted to make Kit Mrs. Mojo. She went on hikes with her sisters and nieces and cooked s’mores for them. She played Frisbee in the Gender-Blender Tourney.
On September 11, 9/11, she was attending a technology conference in the North Tower of the World Trade Center---the 106th Floor, same floor as the famous Windows on the World restaurant. It sounds as if there were a number of conferences going on there that morning. People were probably eating breakfast, drinking coffee, preparing themselves for the meetings ahead. Some of them were probably milling around, chatting; maybe they were getting bored, maybe eager to get down to business. And Kit was one of them, one of those bored, busy or chatty conference-goers. Whatever was happening, she sounds like the sort of person who would have found something to enjoy in it.
Then Flight Number 11, a passenger plane turned into a missile, slammed into the North Tower. The sun set. Kit’s smile vanished, never to be seen again, except in photos and memories.
And the questions you want to ask, but you can’t, because there simply is no answer, and you’ll go crazy if you start: Why her? Why Kit, with her vibrant spirit, who was so good to everyone? Why did she have to be there, at that conference, on that particular day? Why didn’t she play hooky? Why couldn’t she have been on a lower floor? She might have escaped! Why didn’t they just cancel the blasted conference, give everyone a day off! But you go crazy if you start asking questions like that, because really, there is no answer, and only fools try to find one.
It’s silly, but I take some comfort in the fact that the Gender Blender co-ed Frisbee tournament in Fergus, Ontario, gave a special award, “The Kit Faragher Spirit Award”, for the team that most embodied Kit’s spirit. I like it that she’s memorialized, not in cold stone but in a game played under the bright sky by laughing men and women. Eat some tasty, messy treat, like s’mores, in her honor today. Take a hike. Enjoy the sun, laugh at something, try to love with an open heart and mind---or at least respect, if you can’t love! Do it for Kit.
She had a wonderful smile. I wish I could have known her. I can’t write anymore. I’m crying.
(You can read about Kit at inmemoriamonline. Also, September11victims.)
These tributes to victims of the attacks on 9/11 are a part of the 2996 project.
Her name was Kathleen, “Kit,” Faragher.
Her pictures show a very attractive woman---not conventionally beautiful, but dark-haired, dark-eyed, with a strong chin and glowing complexion, her expression radiating humor and confidence. When you look at her, you just want to smile back. It’s a face like a sunrise.
Yes, we know, all too well, that the camera can lie, that pictures can mislead, but, in Kit’s case, it was telling the truth for once; she really did seem to have been the smiling, sunrise-happy woman you see in her photo. Mark Evans, an organizer for the Gender-Blender Co-ed Frisbee Tournament which Kit participated in said she inspired everyone with her verve and energy. Her sister Beth said that people liked being with Kit, that she was “Good people.” Her best friend, Emily, said Kit loved man and beast with an open heart and mind, and treated everyone with respect, love and kindness---even when she was mad at them!
Kit grew up in Russell Township, Ohio. Her parents were William and Beverly Faragher. She had two brothers, William and Jim, and two sisters, Mary Waterman and Beth Faragher. A nice, big family!
She attended West Geauga High School, but spent her senior year at Boca Raton, Florida High School. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with degrees in business and computer information systems. Not just attractive, but smart, too!
She became a computer programmer for the Janus Capital Corporation, in Denver. She had a boyfriend who went by the nic, Mojo and who wanted to make Kit Mrs. Mojo. She went on hikes with her sisters and nieces and cooked s’mores for them. She played Frisbee in the Gender-Blender Tourney.
On September 11, 9/11, she was attending a technology conference in the North Tower of the World Trade Center---the 106th Floor, same floor as the famous Windows on the World restaurant. It sounds as if there were a number of conferences going on there that morning. People were probably eating breakfast, drinking coffee, preparing themselves for the meetings ahead. Some of them were probably milling around, chatting; maybe they were getting bored, maybe eager to get down to business. And Kit was one of them, one of those bored, busy or chatty conference-goers. Whatever was happening, she sounds like the sort of person who would have found something to enjoy in it.
Then Flight Number 11, a passenger plane turned into a missile, slammed into the North Tower. The sun set. Kit’s smile vanished, never to be seen again, except in photos and memories.
And the questions you want to ask, but you can’t, because there simply is no answer, and you’ll go crazy if you start: Why her? Why Kit, with her vibrant spirit, who was so good to everyone? Why did she have to be there, at that conference, on that particular day? Why didn’t she play hooky? Why couldn’t she have been on a lower floor? She might have escaped! Why didn’t they just cancel the blasted conference, give everyone a day off! But you go crazy if you start asking questions like that, because really, there is no answer, and only fools try to find one.
It’s silly, but I take some comfort in the fact that the Gender Blender co-ed Frisbee tournament in Fergus, Ontario, gave a special award, “The Kit Faragher Spirit Award”, for the team that most embodied Kit’s spirit. I like it that she’s memorialized, not in cold stone but in a game played under the bright sky by laughing men and women. Eat some tasty, messy treat, like s’mores, in her honor today. Take a hike. Enjoy the sun, laugh at something, try to love with an open heart and mind---or at least respect, if you can’t love! Do it for Kit.
She had a wonderful smile. I wish I could have known her. I can’t write anymore. I’m crying.
(You can read about Kit at inmemoriamonline. Also, September11victims.)
These tributes to victims of the attacks on 9/11 are a part of the 2996 project.
15 comments
Remembering the Falling Man
This post is dedicated to the Falling Man.
Who was the Falling Man?
There is evidence that he may have been Jonathan Briley, but unfortunately we may never know who he was for sure.
The image is powerful. It stirs many emotions...(©Richard Drew/AP)
I'd written a post wondering what I would do in the same situation.
Would I have the courage to make such a decision?
Would you?
In the end I decided not to post it. These memorials are meant to celebrate the lives of the victims, first and foremost.
I dont know anything of the Falling Man's life other than those last moments captured on film, frozen in the amber of time forever.
I wish I knew more.
I wish I knew him.
This is dedicated to him and the other souls who took flight that day.
To them I dedicate these words, voiced by the late President Reagan after another national tragedy...
"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God'."
Who was the Falling Man?
There is evidence that he may have been Jonathan Briley, but unfortunately we may never know who he was for sure.
The image is powerful. It stirs many emotions...(©Richard Drew/AP)
I'd written a post wondering what I would do in the same situation.
Would I have the courage to make such a decision?
Would you?
In the end I decided not to post it. These memorials are meant to celebrate the lives of the victims, first and foremost.
I dont know anything of the Falling Man's life other than those last moments captured on film, frozen in the amber of time forever.
I wish I knew more.
I wish I knew him.
This is dedicated to him and the other souls who took flight that day.
To them I dedicate these words, voiced by the late President Reagan after another national tragedy...
"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God'."
11 comments
Stellar 9/11 Anniversary Roundup by Lawhawk
If you haven't been reading lawhawk's blog on a regular basis, you should have been. (Ahem-I plead guilty, but am rectifying that little oversight.) Luckily for those of you who have been slacking off, he's done a whopper of a cheat sheet, rounding up tons of his excellent reporting in the five years since 9/11.
Has it really been that long? I still remember 9/11 like it was yesterday!
From his unique perspective as someone who watched 9/11 unfold in person in New York City, he brings us posts about the two steps forward, one step back rebuilding process, the memorial design proposals, the economic impact and the rental market, the security situation in the five years since the attacks, private-sector memorials, the latest plots against the World Trade Center site (now the bastards want to flood the bathtub!), the doings of far-left looney tunes characters, media reminiscences, and much, much more.
Go read it now, and get up to speed. Today's a really good day to do that, I think.
Has it really been that long? I still remember 9/11 like it was yesterday!
From his unique perspective as someone who watched 9/11 unfold in person in New York City, he brings us posts about the two steps forward, one step back rebuilding process, the memorial design proposals, the economic impact and the rental market, the security situation in the five years since the attacks, private-sector memorials, the latest plots against the World Trade Center site (now the bastards want to flood the bathtub!), the doings of far-left looney tunes characters, media reminiscences, and much, much more.
Go read it now, and get up to speed. Today's a really good day to do that, I think.
29 comments