Bulletin Board - General Comments

General Comments  |  Children's Issues

September 11, 2007 Good morning, I use the word good because it is a correct salutation, because today is not a happy day. I live in Miami, FL but my family lived in New York for twenty nine years. On that fateful day, we were living our lives as usual. I was working and someone ran up to me saying a plane had hit the WTC. I never suspected the magnatude of what was happening, till I was told a second plane had hit. I ran to my youngest daughter's school, pulled her out, and went to my parents home. I sat there fixated on what I was watching on TV. I was also on the phone with my older sister. We had grown up in New York, married in New York, had children in New York. Though we lived in Miami, we were consumate New Yorkers. Our beloved home had been attacked and we were devasted. We wanted to help but we were so far away. So we decided to help in what ever way we could. My sister, Gema Lahesa, decided to donate blood at her church. So on Sept 23, 2001 she went to her church and donated the gift of life. But on the way home, she lost conciousness at the wheel of her car, hit a large palm tree, and was critically hurt. She was taken to a hospital, and though the doctors did everything they could, my sister passed away. No one could help her, eventhough she tried to help others. My parents were devasted. No parent should ever have to bury their child. Every Sept 11 is a day of tears and heart wrenching sorrow for us. My sister was a wonderful person. Dedicated to her family, extremely active in her church, and loved by numerous people. I wanted to share my sister's story with you. I wanted someone to know of her sacrifice for the city and people of New York. Every year my parents, who are octogenarians, have a mass for her on the 23rd of Sept, the day she died, but Sept 11 is just as painful. My niece, her daughter was a US Marine, and was discharged a few months prior to 9-11. She wanted to reenlist, but we begged her not to. But my 19 year old son, is now in the US Army and will be deployed at the end of this year. My youngest daughter was one of the hardest hit, as she adored her aunt Gema. Thank you for letting me tell you about her. Submitted by Lizette M.

July 31, 2007 [Regarding the Passage of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Bill]: Bravo to all of you who persisted in this regard. Hope you have not run out of energy. Your hard work is greatly appreciated. -- FOS11 Member, Relative of Victim

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