We will never forget

This is a repost of my 9/11/2006 post, with some new comments and thoughts.



I did not personally know anyone in the Towers, on the planes or in the Pentagon that lost their lives that day. However, I signed up to be part of the 2,996 bloggers to remember an individual who was lost on September 11, 2001. This is a rememberance of one of the lights that was snuffed out that day.

There are not enough words for me to begin to honor or remember. I hope that I can do a little justice to Marlyn's short life.

Marlyn C Garcia
Age: 21
Location: World Trade Center, Tower 1, 100th floor, Marsh and McLennan Cos, Inc

Miss Garcia was the valedictorian of her high school class at Bay Ridge Christian Academy. She was described as mature beyond her years. Smart. Sweet. Prom Queen. A young woman with character. Always smiling. Always nice to everyone. She turned down a scholarship to Syracuse University to remain close to her family, going instead to John Jay College, where, again, she touched so many lives with her kindness and smile. She was attending college as she worked at Marsh and McLennan. She would arrive an hour early each day so that she could leave to attend school in the afternoons. She wanted to work for the United Nations, travel, advocate for those who could not speak for themselves, to spread her light to others.
She had an entire lifetime ahead of her.
She had potential.
She was small. She was fearless. She was determined.
She loved her family. Her parents, her 2 sisters, her Uncle, to whom she wrote on Monday night, Sept 10 " I hope I get to see you Tuesday, I am going into work a little late because I want to vote" September 11 was New York City Mayoral Primary day.
She was a person that any young woman should look up to as an example of a caring and loving person. Someone to stive to be like. A loving Daughter, Sister, Neice, Cousin, Friend. A shining light. In every rememberance of Marlyn that I have read, everyone has described her as being one thing - an Angel. She was an Angel on earth to so many. She was, sadly, in Tower 1 when the plane hit. One of the 2,996 called Home that day. Called Home to be an Angel looking down on everyone she knew and cared about. To now spread her light from above.





















9/11/2013     It's now been 12 years.  It's as fresh in my mind and heart and soul as it was that day.  I know that we are all here on earth for only a blip of time in the grand scheme of things.  But all those who died that day were here for a far shorter time than they were supposed to be.  Marlyn would be 34 now.  Probably married and or a mother.  I'm sure she would have achieved her goals, made her family and herself proud of her accomplishments and made a difference.  I can only hope that she is still shining her light here on earth and making a difference in someone's life.  Although I never met her, she has made a difference in mine.  I just wish that we would all strive each day to live up to the possibilities of all those souls that we lost.  And by "all" I really mean politicians and the people we have chosen to run our country.  They really need to open their hearts and live up to the dreams and goals of all those we lost.  

9/11/2014 - 13 years? that just does not seem possible.  This week in my hometown it has been a very sad week - a 32 year old Rochester Police Officer was shot and killed leaving behind his wife, a 4 year old son, a 3 month old daughter and dozens of family members and friends.  I am sure that their lives feel as ripped apart as those left behind on 9/11/2001. We would like to think that bad things will never happen, and yet they are all part of the circle of life.  Bad things do happen.  And those of us left behind must attempt to cope with them, and we must comfort each other.  

On the night of 9/11/2001, we had a candelight walk in our neighborhood, led by the children. Then we all put our candles out on our porches to burn down during the night. When I light a candle tonight, as I did that night, and as I do every September 11, I will light it in Marlyn's memory.

Marlyn Garcia I will never forget you.