2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.

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.

Today I remember Michael Allen Davidson of Westfield, NJ. Michael was an equity trader in the World Trade Center, and was 27 at the time of the attacks. When he went to work that morning, Michael, like the rest of us, did not know what would await our nation that day.

Here is Michael's profile at it appeared in the New York Times on September 16, 2001:

"He is going to get married in July," Jeff Davidson was saying Friday about his brother Michael, a 27-year-old equity options sales trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. "Her name is Dominique DeNardo. They met in college, at Rutgers. He just saw her from a distance, fell in love with her and wanted her. So he beat up her boyfriend and took her. Caveman-like, pretty much. And they've lived happily ever after. They got engaged on Sept. 21, 2000. On her 25th birthday, he took her to Cancun to propose. He lied to her by saying he won a trip on one of the Web sites just for the weekend. About midway through, he finally popped the question. He waited until sunset on the first night.

"He's a big mush ball. He cries at commercials. But you better not put that in because he thinks he's a tough guy. He's kind of a big kid — 5 foot 10, 215 pounds. But he's as sensitive as they come. We have a grandma down in Florida. So every chance we get, we try to get Grandma to fly up. Grandma's like, 'I don't have the money right now.' My brother's like, 'Don't worry.' He pays for it, or we all pitch in, whatever. We get her up here somehow. He cares."

Bryan Rogers commented on Michael's page on the list of the 9-11 victims saying

"After seeing 'Michael Davidson from Westfield, NJ' on the victims list of 9/11, I had a chill run down my spine. Could this be the same Mike Davidson that I knew from grade school and high school? Unfortunately this picture confirms that it is.

For me, this realization further aggravates an already distressing event. I hope that his family and friends are coping well with what must be a devastating loss."

There are many other kind words on Michael's page, and I suggest you read through them to get an idea of how this singular event that took so many lives affected those most immediate to the attacks. I had originally planned to do a deep reflection for the fifth anniversary of 9-11, but when I heard about the 2,996 project, I felt it most appropriate. I still may have a post up this week discussing the ramifications of the attacks, but today I do not wish to memorialize the attackers.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Through the mercy of God, may his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

As for my plans, I will spend the day mostly as a normal weekday, though I will surely have a much somber mood than normal. I also plan to spend a good part of the day in prayer and quiet contemplation.


9/11/2004 post
9/11/2005 post
United 93 review (I link it because it contains reflections on 9-11 itself as well as the movie)

Posted by Ryan S. on Monday, September 11, 2006 at 8:46 AM | Permalink |