In Memory of Mark Bingham

Mark Bingham was 31 years old and from New York, NY. (Born: Phoenix, Arizona). Mark was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93.

Mark Bingham was last to board United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. He arrived late and nearly missed the flight. Mark sat in seat 4D, in the rear of first class, just behind the cockpit. At 9:28am the plane was hijacked by terrorists.

Mark made a brief airphone call to his mother, Alice, saying 'I love you'. Later Alice left a voicemail message on Mark's cell phone, instructing her son to attempt to reclaim the aircraft after it became apparent that Flight 93 was to be used in a suicide attack.

It is widely believed that Mark was part of a group of passengers who attempted to stop the hijackers from reaching their intended destination. During the attempt, however, the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"It gives me a great deal of comfort to know my son may have been able to avert the killing of many, many innocent people." Alice.


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It's an event that shook the world. Honest, unflinching and profoundly moving, United 93 tells the unforgettable story of the heroic passengers and crew members who prevented the terrorists from carrying out their plans for the fourth hijacked plane on September 11, 2001. As on-ground military and civilian teams scrambled to make sense of the unfolding events, forty people who sat down as strangers found the courage to stand up as one.

In Memory of Debra Marie Paris

Debra Marie Paris was 48 years old and from New York, NY. Debra worked for Sandler O'Neill on the 104th floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

When Herman Sandler, president of Sandler O'Neill, bought his yacht, he turned everything over to Debra, saying, "Let me know when the money runs out." She did the rest, from hiring a captain to paying the marina. 'No Problem' was his name for the boat — fitting, no doubt, from his point of view, but only because of Debra.

On September 11, 2001, 83 people came to work at Sandler O'Neill and 66 never went home.

"She was like my wife, my child, my mother, my best friend. And I was a husband and father and child and brother to her." Jimmy (Debra's husband).

In Memory of Daniel David Bergstein

Daniel David Bergstein was 38 years old and from Teaneck, New Jersey. (Born: New York, NY). Daniel was the board secretary for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

On September 11, 2001, none of his co-workers at the Port Authority had seen Daniel enter his office on the 67th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The only person who spotted him was a secretary in the lobby, who saw him get into an elevator minutes before American Airlines Flight 11 hit the building.

Daniel's daughter, Adrianna Bergstein, knows something has been very wrong since September 11, when her father didn't come to pick her up from kindergarten class as promised. But she can't yet grasp it.

"We think she's really blocked it out," her mother, Alicia, said softly. "She really worshiped him. Everything was 'Daddy.' . . . She was completely Daddy's little girl."

Daniel was supposed to pick up Adrianna at 12:30 pm that day. He had planned on taking her into his office at the World Trade Center - a trip he knew she loved.


Alicia Bergstein, center, comforts her children Devin Bergstein, left, and Adrianna Bergstein while visiting the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York. (Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011).

In Memory of Karen Ann Martin

Karen Ann Martin was 40 years old and from Danvers, Massachusetts. Karen was the lead flight attendant on the American Airlines Flight 11.

In 1989, Karen became an American Airlines flight attendant and, jumping up onto a chair, proclaimed to her friends: "There is now something special in the air!"

On September 11, 2001, Karen became the first victim of the attacks. She was brutally attacked on the plane for the keys to the cockpit, which were in her possession.

Karen was not married but was known as 'Aunt Karen' to her friends kids. When asked about her safety as a Flight Attendant, Karen said, "I love my job and whatever happens, happens. I love my job." Karen's aunt, Joan Greener, recalls, "She loved people, but wasn't intimidated by people, and I know she didn't go down without a fight."

In Memory of Edward Thomas Strauss

Edward Thomas Strauss was 44 years old and from Edison, New Jersey. (Born: New York, NY). Edward worked as Superintendent of Operations at the World Trade Center.

As Chief of World Trade Center Operations, one of his duties was to be part of the initial response to any call for help within the complex.

Edward had a critical role in 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Six lives were lost that cold February afternoon, including a good friend of Eddie's. She was six months pregnant, working in the office next door to his when the explosion occurred. His life spared, he immediately swung into action, breaking through rubble to get to rescue workers and the injured.

When the Twin Towers were attacked on the morning of September 11, 2001, Edward once again chose to stay and put plans into action. Those plans helped save other people's lives.

"When we heard what happened to the buildings, we knew he was in there. From the time he was young, he was taking care of people. That's probably the way he died. He was a very giving person. Anybody who needed him, he was there, at work, at home, anywhere." Theresa, (Edward's sister).

In Memory of Giovanna Galletta Gambale

Giovanna Galletta Gambale was 27 years old and from Brooklyn, NY. Giovanna worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Giovanna and her sister, Antonia, were both working in the North Tower. Antonia worked on the fifth floor, and was able to get out right away. She called her father, Anthony, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and told him she was OK. He told her to come home. Then he said, "What about your sister?"

Giovanna known to her friends as 'Gennie' could not escape.

"When that first plane hit the World Trade Center, it hit all of our hearts, because our Gennie was there. When the towers crumbled, our hearts crumbled because our Gennie was there. But like Grandma says, Gennie quickly flew away from there, she flew away from there with her big Gennie smile on her face. We will always have Gennie with us." Lisa Baeurle (Giovanna's cousin).

In Memory of Sara Elizabeth Manley

Sara Elizabeth Manley was 31 years old and from New York, NY. Sara worked for Fred Alger Management on the 93rd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the northern facade of the North Tower, impacting between the 93rd and 99th floors.

On August 11, 2001, Sara married Bill Harvey at a storybook wedding in Chapel Hill, N.C. Sara oversaw every detail, down to the magenta-colored napkins that matched the roses the flower girls carried. She took as much time planning the menu for three guests who were vegetarians as she did for the other 120 invitees. "That's the kind of person Sara was. She wanted to make sure everyone was happy."

"My marriage lasted exactly one month." Bill said.

In Memory of Joanne Mary Cregan

Joanne Mary Cregan was 32 years old and from Brooklyn, New York. (Born: Dublin, Ireland). Joanne worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 am, after burning for 102 minutes.

Some of the Joanne's remains were found months later and identified by DNA testing. Joanne's family were surprised to hear that the necklace she had been wearing was also located. Joanne's mother Mary said, "We don't know how they identified it, but it is very special to us to have it back."

Joanne had moved to New York with her sister Grace. They bought apartment, just two floors apart, in Brooklyn Heights. The pair were inseparable. They sent each other emails throughout the day and watched TV together at night. Grace worked in the South Tower and managed to escape.

In the New York Times Portraits of Grief her sister Grace spoke about how difficult it have been for her since her sister's death. She said "She was an excellent big sister…Sometimes it just hits me that I'll never see her again. I won't get to grow old with her."

In Memory of Todd Morgan Beamer

Todd Morgan Beamer was 32 years old and from Cranbury, New Jersey. (Born: Flint, Michigan). Todd was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93.

On September 11, 2001, Todd left his home for a one-day business trip to San Francisco.

After United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked, Todd and other passengers communicated with people on the ground via airphones and cell phones, and learned that the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had been attacked using hijacked airplanes.

Todd tried to place a credit card call through a phone located on the back of a plane seat but was routed to a customer-service representative instead, who passed him on to GTE supervisor Lisa Jefferson. Todd reported that one passenger was killed and, later, that a flight attendant had told him the pilot and co-pilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded. He was also on the phone when the plane made its turn in a southeasterly direction, a move that had him briefly panicking. Later, he told the operator that some of the plane's passengers were planning to "jump on" the hijackers and fly the plane into the ground before the hijackers' plan could be followed through.

Todd then recited The Lord's Prayer. Todd's last audible words were "Are you guys ready? Okay, let's roll."

Todd's daughter, Morgan Kay, was born on January 9, 2002, approximately four months after his death.

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In Memory of Kenneth Joseph Marino

Kenneth Joseph Marino was 40 years old and from Monroe, New York. Kenneth was a firefighter for New York City Fire Department, Rescue Company 1.

On September 11, 2001, Kenneth put on his helmet and responded to the World Trade Center less than one hour after his wife, Katrina, and their children, Kristin, and Tyler, had paid him a surprise visit at his Manhattan firehouse. He sat the kids on one of the trucks, held Kristin in his lap. And then they were gone.

Nine men responded from Rescue One including four who were off duty at the time. Two of their bodies were later recovered from the stairwell of Tower One. But seven, including Kenneth, were never found.

Katrina has kept the damaged helmet her husband wore into the North Tower. "It's nice to have that," she said. "It's nice to have that special object, something tangible that I can see and hold."

Katrina, who met her husband when she was working as a flight attendant, said she has not remarried and still struggles to cope without him.

"We have a long road to travel, this is going to be a life changing journey, one I never thought we would have to make. We are lucky to have such a wonderful support system. Family, friends and the nation have all shown such kindness. I know we will not be alone in this journey. Thank you all." Katrina.

Katrina is featured in this Life book The American Spirit: Meeting the Challenge of September 11

In Memory of Karen Elizabeth Hagerty

Karen Elizabeth Hagerty was 34 years old and from New York, NY. Karen worked for Aon Corporation on the 105th floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, when the first plane crashed into the North Tower, Karen and her colleagues immediately started the evacuation of their building. They were at the 78th floor awaiting the express elevator when the second plane struck their tower.

As some office workers spoke nervously of the loved ones they were rushing to rejoin, Karen joked, "I have a horse and two cats", as she was squeezed out of an elevator spot.

One of Karen's colleagues who had been with her on the 78th floor managed to survive, and revealed to Karen's parents that Karen died upon the impact of the second plane.

"My sister loved her animals more than life," Karen's sister said. "She called them her kids."

In Memory of Jennifer Louise Fialko

Jennifer Louise Fialko was 29 years old and from Teaneck, New Jersey. Jennifer worked for AON Corporation on the 92nd floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Jennifer had just found the man she believed to be her soulmate, David.

On September 11, 2001, she called David at 8:59 after the first plane hit the North Tower. She realized she needed to get out of the tower. He told her to call back when she got to the bottom. The second plane hit her tower at 9:03. Nobody ever heard from her again.

At 24, an age when most people are busy with first jobs and apartments, Jennifer was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. She was 29 before she fully recovered. Beating cancer made her glow with new confidence. She felt she could do anything.

"She was convinced she was now going to live to 120," said Andrew Fialko, her brother. "And we believed her."

In Memory of Patrick J. Quigley IV

Patrick J. Quigley IV was 40 years old and from Wellesley, Massachusetts. Patrick was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175.

Thirty four days before Leah's birth, her dad, Patrick J. Quigley IV, woke up early. He got unusually flustered trying to find and iron a clean pair of pants. He kissed his wife, Patti, goodbye. Then he hopped in a limo to make his plane, United Airlines Flight 175. Patrick sat in the first row of first class for the last and unknowable chapter of his life.

On that morning, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Patrick's friends describe him as a kindhearted class clown growing up.

"There isn't a person who knew Pat that didn't like him," high school friend Katrina Wright said shortly before a memorial service for him in October 2001. "He was so nice, and nice to everyone"

In Memory of Marisa Dinardo Schorpp

Marisa Dinardo Schorpp was 38 years old and from White Plains, NY.

Marisa worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On Monday, September 10, 2001, Marisa went out to dinner to celebrate her mother's birthday. Marisa did not have to travel far to join the party. She hosted a group of six at Windows on the World, a few floors up from her office in the North Tower. "Mom, I have you at the top of the world", Marisa told her mother.

"We ordered great wine and food, danced and laughed until 1:30 a.m.," said her brother Harley. "She said she had to be back at 8.15 that morning for a meeting."

At 8.46am on September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the northern facade of the North Tower. The damage caused to the North Tower destroyed any means of escape at the impact zone or above it. All stairwells and elevators from the 92nd floor up were rendered impassable

A year later, Marisa's heavily damaged and charred pocketbook was returned to her family. The contents within her recovered bag included various credit cards, a Blockbuster card, ID cards, and the receipt from the celebratory dinner at Windows on the World from the evening before in honor of her Mother's birthday.

Marisa was never found.


Westchester County 9/11 Memorial in Valhalla, NY.

In Memory of Timothy Matthew Welty

Timothy Matthew Welty was 34 years old and from Yonkers, New York. Timothy was a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department, Squad 288.

Timothy had gained a reputation as a fearless and single-minded firefighter, who would let nothing and no one stand in his way to fight a fire. This reputation earned him a spot in the new FDNY "Squad" Companies, which were created after the 1993 World Trade Center attacks as elite specially trained firefighting companies.

On September 11, 2001, Timothy had finished his 12 hour shift at FDNY Squad 288 in Queens. The sight of the burning towers was visible from the firehouse. Timothy called his wife to say he would not be home in time to bring their son to school, donned his turnout gear and jumped on the back of the Hazmat truck as it pulled out.

"My son, Timothy, was lost in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. He was killed while trying to save the lives of those trapped in the towers, regardless of race, color, religion, political affiliation or immigration status."

"Timmy, you were always a ray of sunshine, your smile lit up my life. We miss you desperately, love you intensely and hold you forever in our hearts." Adele Welty (Timothy's mother).