Month: August 2011

Awhile ago in between assignments, I signed on for a 9/11 internet tribute to all of the victims who died on that terrible day. The idea is to learn more about some of the victims, and to ensure that they are remembered.

Then, I had a series of small assignments and tasks, and it all got away from me. I forgot to write my tribute.

Today I realized that oversight and am rectifying it by writing my tribute to Winston Arthur Grant.

Winston, I never knew you but I watched the horrific events of that day unfold; that was the day you died. I will offer a Mass for you and for your family. And I pray you are resting in peace and that your family has found some consolation.

The 2996 Project lays out the beta:

On September 11, 2001 almost 3,000 of the world’s citizens were brutally, and publicly, murdered. We all cried, and we all swore that we’d never forget. But a few years later I realized that I knew nothing about those people who were doing nothing more than living their lives. In 2006 I asked other bloggers if they thought it would be a good idea to take the time to learn about the victims and try to keep their individual memories alive. The response I got was overwhelming. And Project 2,996 is the result.

Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, whatever you may think of what has happened in the years since 9/11, I don’t think it’s too much to ask to learn about just one victim. Here is a list of tributes that have been posted over the past years.

Note: At the end is a list of victims whose tributes have gone offline. If you’d like to participate write a tribute to one of those names, and help make sure no one is forgotten.

And here are some links to tributes to Winston Arthur Grant:

1. Where He Glistened Like an Angel, is a blog tribute to Winston by another who was assigned to write about him. Unfortunately I’m unable to retrieve it while behind the firewall at my workplace this afternoon.

2. From CNN’s 9/11 Tribute Site:

   • Winston was a true gentleman who loved and admired his family. He was an incredible person who taught me the importance of the little things in life while I was chasing after deadlines, money, power and prestige. He will be missed and I can only hope to be half the man he was.

     Paul M. Dreskin, co-worker

   • Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, and not by sight, we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:6-8)But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. (1 Thess 4:13-14)

     Steven Goldman, close friend

   • I just want to express my deepest respects to the family of a true friend and co-worker. An intelligent and remarkable man that left a mark on my life. Hard work and friendship described his life. I miss my friend and coworker. He is missed at tech services at Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

     Fredd Guerrero, co-worker

   • I didn’t personally know Mr. Grant, but his daughter is a dear friend of mine. Joya is a person of deep faith in God, is tremendously devoted to her family, warm and loving. Her parents raised her wonderfully. She is a living tribute to her father’s love. May God rest his soul and keep his family safe and blessed.

     Lorilynn Varnado, friend

   • In the short time that I knew Winston and supervised him, I can tell you he was a supreme gentleman and a great person to have on any staff. His loss continues to effect us to this day, and the memories of him will be with us forever.

     Kenneth Milberg,
     supervisor

3. From 9/11 Brothas and Sistas…

   Winston Arthur Grant rose at 4 a.m. each day to care for his wife, Joyce, a victim of Lou Gehrig’s disease who uses a wheelchair. An immigrant from Trinidad, Mr. Grant seized upon computer technology as a career path in the 1960’s, and rose to the position of chief technical services specialist at Empire Blue Cross in the World Trade Center. “He was the one who people would call in the middle of the night to get the computer problem straightened out,” Mrs. Grant said.

   Mr. Grant met Joyce at a 1965 dance at the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem; the couple married a year later, ultimately raising three sons and a daughter. Mrs. Grant, who learned of her illness in the late 1980’s, recalled the morning of Sept. 11, when her husband, 59, was joined by their daughter, Joya, on a 6:56 a.m. commuter train from their home in West Hempstead, N.Y.

   The train was delayed by 20 minutes. “Joya called to say I shouldn’t worry, since he was probably too late to be inside the World Trade Center,” she said. “Then I turned on the TV, saw the black necklace around the building, and started to pray.”

   

4. Another, from Liberty Unites, which I cannot retrieve behind my firewall as well.

   Dear IT department, God bless you. And I completely understand.

As mentioned, at the beginning of the project all of the names were passed out and assigned. However, some sites have been closed or have otherwise moved on. So there are plenty of names left to write about and to learn about.

If you have a moment, why not take a look and learn about one of these souls who died in 9/11, as we approach the 10th Anniversary.

It’s well worth the simple effort, and could easily be a simple, spiritual act of mercy.