Daughters Of 9/11

All of us have felt loss.

The loss I know the deepest is the loss I’ve experienced as a daughter. So when I wanted to understand what the past 10 years have been like for those most personally affected, I talked to the daughters of the victims of 9/11.

There are people who look at 9/11 with fear, bitterness and anger. These women look at it with hope. I’d like to introduce you to three of them.

Alexandra Wald was just starting her first day of high school when her father, Victor Wald, a stockbroker, died in the north tower. Just a week before, he had told his 13-year-old daughter that the worst thing she could ever do was ask “what if?’’ about her life.

So Alexandra, now 23, looks at the future, hoping to ensure that a 9/11 never happens again. That’s why, with her grant from The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, she majored in Islamic studies and Arabic at Vanderbilt University and interned at the Department of Homeland Security. She's also raising money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.
Her story is surprising and inspiring.

Anne Earthman knows exactly what she’ll be doing the afternoon of September 11, 2011. After observing the remembrance ceremonies at Ground Zero, she’ll go to the cemetery where her mother, Elvira Granitto, is buried and have a little mother-daughter chat. They have a lot to talk about: Anne, 21, is a senior now at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Rockland County, New York, majoring in criminal justice and a recipient of a grant from the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.

Before this happened, she was an 11-year-old little girl who dreamed of becoming a dancer or a teacher. After the death of her mother, that dramatically changed.

Susan Esposito Lombardo , 33, told me she is “the epitome of a Daddy’s girl,’’ which is something I understand. She still can’t believe he wasn’t there to walk her down the aisle or never get to know her three children. But she is living her life according to the motto Billy “Scoop’’ Esposito taught her: “If you have it, give it.’’

You’ll be surprised at what she decided to give.

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Alex Wald

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Comments

[firstdamsel]

06:23 PM on 09/12/2011

What wonderful clips, two thumbs up to Marlo Thomas! Time seems to have stood still for her, she looks great. These three women have grown into extraordinary examples of determination and shining stars in the face of adversity! God Bless them and may they have continued success in life~

[bmitche]

07:28 PM on 09/09/2011

Just looking at his picture reminds you of a super dad !

[Wendy Stewart]

07:18 PM on 09/09/2011

Overcoming grief at times can be very daunting. To see these young women move on with such bravery and a commitment to making their lives mean something is very inspiring. God bless.

[foster5]

06:46 PM on 09/09/2011

im gladd to see so many kids have turned out good!!! my fear was how the children of 9/11 would deal with the loss of a parent they could have went either way..I believe alot of it had to do with their parent that survived and all the programs that were set up for them...Im sure we only hear about the happy endings though...Im sure anyone who was alive when this happened will never forget that day for it was a day that you seen and a day you felt emotionally, just like im sure there is days our elders will never forget either...May God bless the familys who lost loved ones that day and everyone who's still effected by it still to this day...we are still loosing people over 9/11 the count should go up because our people who helped with everything that day and the all the days and months after are sick and dying from it..so lets also remember them and continue to give thank to them for all they did that day and everyday!!!!!

[Neil Reilly]

04:41 PM on 09/09/2011

May God watch over all of you and all the victims of 9/11. We are all with you.

[freedomsbetter]

04:41 PM on 09/09/2011

What a sad story. My heart goes out to all the people that lost love ones on this day. To those who say its time to move on. They will never get over this. The pain will be less, but they will always feel the loss. I'm glad that I know families are forever.

[Itsafact]

04:36 PM on 09/09/2011

To those who want to indulge in poetry and other forms of creative writing (see down the board), this is not Creative Writing 101. If you want to write poetry or verse, please go elsewhere. This is not what this board is about.

[sejs105]

02:28 PM on 09/09/2011

Hello Friends I have a comment that may not be very populr with some of you. Do we as a nation still mourn for thethousands killed on December 7 1941 No, we do not. Do we still mourn for November 23, 1963? No, we do not. The president of the United States was gunned down like a dog in the street that day in Dallas Texas. Do we as a nation mourn the 100,000 people killed when the United States dropped the A-Bomb on Hiroshima Japan? No, we do not. Then why do we as a nation still mourn this event 9-11-01? That happened, just like the other terrible ervents listed here. friends, Move On.

[kalahanlav]

03:33 PM on 09/09/2011

I do not look at it as a day of mourn, more of a day of remembrance, we still remember those days and most of the dates you mention when you look on a calender it says remembrance day and what it is for. Yes there is a lot of news cast and shows for 9/11 but it had a major impact on everyone. And its hard to "move on" when it is still out there, terror threats and a war that is still going on because of this day. And the men and women that are fighting for this country are there dying still because of the attacks on september 11. So as long as this war is still going, every year people will be mourning and remembering.

[MalekJordan]

04:18 PM on 09/09/2011

I disagree with parts of your statement, but I do believe we should move on. Having sat through countless documentaries on D-Day and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, I know that people still do mourn the dead of those tragic events too, especially my grandfather who was a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack and my other grandfather who survived D-Day. One of my great uncles is still mourned to this day, because he tragically lost his life in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We don't feel it, because we were not part of 'The Greatest Generation', but those people are still mourned by those who were alive and cognizent of the world around them.


I think we will eventually move on and realize that our response to this terrorist attack in the end gutted America of much of it's freedom. It is absurd to be treated as a criminal at every airport and to spawn hatred against people of a certain relgion when our nation was founded on religious tolerance. I think if we honestly look at America today that we will find it is devoid of the privacy we enjoyed before 9/11 and when we do, I pray that we have the gumption to begin rebuilding our country to suit ourselves and not to suit our fears.

[Kim0330]

10:25 PM on 09/08/2011

Why just daughters of 9/11, why not just children in general?

[MalekJordan]

04:20 PM on 09/09/2011

I think it is because the author identifies best with the daughters of 9/11, as she is a daughter who is mourning the loss of a parent.

[Wookiee1972]

02:36 PM on 09/10/2011

Danny Thomas died twenty years ago. Rose Marie Thomas died in 2000.

As well, Marlo Thomas has brothers. But I guess they don't count.

[Itsafact]

04:32 PM on 09/09/2011

Because Marlo Thomas is a Women's Libber to the hilt. She can become tiresome with it, in my opinion.

[Mlark]

04:13 AM on 09/08/2011

Sons of 9/11?

[GirlInNYC]

10:07 PM on 09/08/2011

Good question, Mark.

[pipetoe]

10:18 AM on 09/09/2011

It's just Mar.Thomas thing...feminist such..Don't take it personally. If it was me it would be about all the children as well....but different strokes for different folks. It's her blog.

[TomZart]

12:58 AM on 09/08/2011

WAR


As war is fought it takes charge
And events spin out of control.
The madness of men can alter the soil
Which nourishes the roots of their soul.

Many things will forever change
Far more then wished to be.
As the wrath of war starts to destroy
Those things we fight to keep free.

War is the greatest plague of man,
Religion, state and sanity.
Any scourge is more preferred
Than the one which disables humanity.

When war breaks out, boundaries change
And all who die are a token
Of the rage that must run it's course
Before words of peace are spoken.


By Tom Zart

[TomZart]

12:57 AM on 09/08/2011

OUR FLAG


Our flag is fabric wove of thread
Carried by heroes live and dead.
She stands for justice and courage too
With her colors; red, white and blue.

For all who serve her, there’ll be cheers
For any who die, there’ll be tears
For all who love her, honor will prevail
Any who harm her, shall suffer and fail.

How many moms have cried before
As they sent their children to war?
How many dads have not returned
Because our freedom must be earned?

Wars were waged where brave men died
As patriots fought side by side.
Our flag is still the pearl of earth
Because of those who prove her worth.


AMERICAN SOLDIER


It’s not a priest that gives us our freedom of religion
And it’s not a reporter that gives us our freedom of voice.
It’s not any judge, lawyer, politician, preacher or teacher
But the blood of a soldier that has sacrificed by choice.


By Tom Zart

[Itsafact]

04:35 PM on 09/09/2011

This isn't Creative Writing 101. We did not come here to read your poetry or whatever this is.

[Rhett7337]

05:39 PM on 09/09/2011

Oh calm down. Let them post whatever they want. Who are you to judge? If you don't like it, simply don't read it.

[TomZart]

12:57 AM on 09/08/2011

FREEDOM


In their new uniforms
The young march off
Not knowing who shall return.
With a proud devotion
They brandish their flag
Leaving loved ones to wonder and yearn.

May we all be buried
By all of our children
Is an ancient tribal prayer.
They're so easy to lose
But so hard to forget
Such a burden for a parent to bear.

The taste of victory
Shall soon be forgotten
But never that which was lost.
For those rows of white headstones
In peaceful green fields
Make it easy to tally the cost.

America has survived
All attempts to destroy
Knowing the cruelty of war
And we who remain
Must help keep her free
For those who can march no more!


By Tom Zart

[TomZart]

12:56 AM on 09/08/2011

FORMIDABLE FOE


America is the birthday cake of earth
As the ants march from every direction.
Thank God for all who have sworn to defend her
Serving with love, honor, pride, and affection.

Since the first day George Washington marched off to war
There have been those who have wished our demise.
Their hatred, fueled by jealousy and greed
Was defeated by our brave and the wise.

Once again, we must face a formidable foe
Who have pledged by their God to destroy us all.
Misusing their faith as an excuse to kill
As for a worldwide jihad, their leaders call.

Some say we should try to appease them
For if we resist, they'll hate us even more.
But the David's among us shall cast our stones
Defeating them, as it was done before.


By Tom Zart

[Itsafact]

04:33 PM on 09/09/2011

This is not Creative Writing 101. Can all your prose that has nothing to do with this board.Again, this isn't Creative Writing 101.

[dantey6910]

04:46 PM on 09/09/2011

it bothers you that much?

[Rhett7337]

05:40 PM on 09/09/2011

Again, this isn't 'Let's jump down people's throats because they do things I don't like" board. It happens to be a fact, itsafact, that people are allowed to post as they please. You have your own mind. If you don't like it, don't read it.