The 2297th Victim

The 2996 Project was made so that all the victims, 2,996, would be remembered on this day. In my heart it should 2,997..because one victim who had no voice is almost always forgotten. Most people have never heard of him...well here he is..and here's my remembrance of him.

On this day eight years ago the world was changed forever. The victims of September 11 should never be forgotten. I'm taking this day to remember a victim who had four legs instead of two. A victim who I feel is forgotten because he wasn't a human. He was a Port Authority Police Canine. A four and a half year 90 pound yellow lab named Sirius. And the only canine officer killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center.

On the morning of September 11, 2001 when the first plane hit Sirius was put in his kennel in the basement of tower 2 by his partner Officer David Lim. David told him, "Wait here boy, I'll be back for you." But sadly he never made it back for his partner. David Lim was trapped in a stairwell when the first tower collapsed. While trapped he kept repeating, "Oh no, my dog. I have to save my dog." But Officer Lim along with several others weren't rescued from the rubble for many hours. In the meantime the second tower had collapsed, taking the life of his faithful partner as he sat waiting in his kennel.

On January 22, 2002 Officer Lim received a phone call from Ground Zero, his partner had been found. He returned to the site where his partner had been placed on a gurney and covered with an American flag. As he carried his friend's remains from the rubble all the work on the site stopped. The big machines silenced and salutes were given as Officer Lim made good on his word. He came back for his partner.

On April 24, 2002 a memorial service for Sirius was held in Liberty State Park. Over 100 police and search and rescue dogs attended the memorial. Many of their badges covered by a black ribbon. A trumpeter sounded Taps and bagpipes played Amazing Grace. A single pallbearer carried Sirius' ashes in a wooden urn. Handlers and dogs from as far away as California paid tribute to a fallen officer. Officer Lim was presented with Sirius' water bowl which was recovered from his kennel. It had been inscribed with the words "I gave my life, so that you may save others." In his words to the crowd in attendence Officer Lim said,"I grieve for many friends that I lost that day. I grieve for all those that I didn't know. I also grieve for the best partner I ever had. "

May the dog star shine forever bright in the night sky..you will never be forgotten Sirius.

Robert J. Mayo

True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost. But the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

September 11th 2001 was a day I won't ever forget. It was a tragedy, but out of tragedy came stories. Stories of courage, love, compassion, loss and sacrifice..and stories of everyday people becoming heroes. Please allow me to take the time to introduce you to one of those heroes. He was a 46 year old deputy fire safety director at the World Trade Center. His name was Robert J. Mayo. His life was lost when the second tower collapsed. But before I tell of his demise, I'd like to share a few things I learned about his life..a life taken far too soon. He was a husband to Meryl and a father to an only son Corbin. He had a big heart and took in and nursed stray animals back to health. He loved planning family vacations. He enjoyed landscaping and working around his house. He and Corbin were both huge Giants fans. So much so that they turned their family room into a "shrine". They put on Giants hats, drank from Giants glasses and watched the games together. He was a thoughtful and loving father to his son. Leaving notes each day to his son..scraps of paper, backs of envelopes or napkins..just anything to leave a message on..whether it was good luck on your test, have a nice day or most importantly...I love you..he made sure Corbin knew he thought of him. And on the second anniversary of the attacks..Corbin was able to say all the things he never got to say to his dad before he died.

Corbin Mayo wanted to speak to his father again.

Two years ago, on Sept. 11, the boy began calling his father's cellphone. He called for days. Robert J. Mayo never picked up. Mr. Mayo, a contract fire safety director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had helped evacuate a building and stayed on duty despite his wife's pleas over the telephone to leave. He died in the south tower.

Yesterday, a slightly taller, tougher Corbin Mayo, now 13, strode across the stage at ground zero to read the names of some of the missing. His gray suit was a touch too big, as if waiting for the boy to grow into it. Then, before a sea of tear-streaked faces, he said: ''And my father, Robert Mayo. I love you.''

They were words his father needed to hear, he said earlier -- words that held a new and bittersweet meaning. It was through Mr. Mayo's death, and only after Corbin's anger began to thaw, that the son could touch the truth about his father: He was a brave man.

''I want to tell my dad that I care about him much more than I did before,'' said Corbin, an only child who lives with his mother, Meryl, in Marlboro, N.J. ''I care about him a gazillion times more.''

September 9th, 2002 Corbin was presented the Medal of Valor at the White House in honor of his dad. He spoke of how proud he was of him because of his bravery. I have little doubt that Robert Mayo is looking down on his son and wife and is equally as proud of them.

When you sign up to write these tributes it's difficult because you are truly writing about someone you never met..a total stranger. But once you research them, you feel as if you are somehow connected. And although I never got the chance to meet him, I am connected to his family now...after seeing the Early Show piece about my USO work his wife made a donation in my honor to the USO. It truly touched my heart to have someone who had lost so much be willing to honor me. I just hope this piece doesn't let her down.

Robert Mayo could have easily ran from the building and saved himself. Instead he chose to stay behind and help others get out. No one knows exactly how many lives he saved on that day. All I can say is he sacrificed his own so that others may live.

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.

Coming Through Our Line

There's something really special about sunrise on the tarmac. Because sometimes it's the last sunrise the soldiers will see on American soil for a while and sometimes it's the first sunrise they see back on American soil. I'm blessed to be part of either one. This day started out bittersweet. I was working my third deployment flight for that day. It was around 6:30am and I had been at the terminal since 12:30 the night before. I still had three more flights to work. The sun was rising, soldiers were walking to the plane and the whole sky was a beautiful deep pink. The color that only mother nature can you give you and can't be duplicated. I'm watching the soldiers go by wondering if they notice the sky. the last sunrise they will see on American soil for a long time. I just quietly watch..lost in my thoughts. When the soldiers leave they pass thru a line of American flags..on one side the flags are held by the Red Cross on the other by USO..there's seldom less than 4 large flags billowing as they pass and the volunteers cheer them on. The same is true when they come home. they walk thru the line of flags, cheering volunteers and well wishers. The plane loaded and took off. We watched until it disappeared into the morning sky. Then we all went in and got ready for the next flight...but this was a homecoming. I'm in the store room when I hear a lot of people talking. A lady comes in our room and says there's a wounded soldier in the building and his unit is on the plane. He has come to meet them. I finished what I was doing and walked out of the store room. There he was..a smiling happy guy..in a wheel chair..with 2 little boys a wife and his dog. :) We got word the plane was coming so went out and lined up like always. We saw him making his way over to the plane stairs. I noticed someone with a walker. We all thought maybe a second wounded warrior was on the plane..but nope. When the soldiers started getting off the plane, from across the tarmac, I saw that soldier stand and greet his battle buddies. And he stood up using the walker until every soldier was off the plane. I was so busy watching him I wasn't paying much attention to the soldiers who were home and passing me! Each one going thru our line of flags and cheers. I saw him being wheeled back over to where we all were. He took a place closest to the door but back from our line. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I'm not sure if I have ever seen that much emotion in a person's face. He was smiling ear to ear..but something just bothered me. That's when I realized..he hadn't been given a "proper" Savannah homecoming..he hadn't come thru the line. So I asked a Warrant Officer with him to please see if he would go thru. She went over bent down and whispered to him. The look on his face brought me to tears. He looked down the line at the flags and in a few minutes went to the beginning of the line and waited. We always stay outside until every soldier is in the building. It's hard to tell how many are left since they all wear the same thing lol. One of the volunteers said.."ok..that's it. They've all come thru" I said no, that's not it yet." He looks and says oh yeah I see one more coming...when that soldier passed the volunteer AGAIN..said that's it..I said no it's not..he looked at me funny and started to say something else..I'm usually very quiet and don't speak out much..which explains the look of shock on his face when I firmly said NO IT'S NOT it..we have one more...and I nodded to the soldier in the wheel chair..the volunteer said..oh well he doesn't count..he's not coming thru the line..I said like HELL HE DOESN'T COUNT!! And he IS coming thru so stand down and wait...thankfully the soldier in the wheelchair didn't hear any of this..and with the last of the soldiers off the plane thru the line..his wife pushed him thru the flags, down the line to the loudest cheers anyone got all day...his face was beaming with pride, my eyes were blurred with tears...he came thru the line..and now he was officially home.

My first night as a USO volunteer was January 22, 2005...a night I will never forget!


Last night I went to Hunter Army Air field, here in Savannah. I went as a volunteer for the USO. It was first trip and I sort of nervous. I get really emotional when it comes to certain things. And our troops as you probably know happen to be one of those things. There were a couple hundred troops from the 3rdID leaving last night. So I went to help. My job was hand out Krispy Kreme doughnuts! OH NO not Krispy Kreme!! Anyway, I was so amazed at how relaxed and young these guys were!! They were ready to do their job. I watched them line up and board the plane. I was lucky enough to be on the tarmac when they left. I stood in the 30* temp waving a tiny flag. I watched a plane filled with American pride disappear into the night sky. I watched the lights until I could no longer see them. I wish I could describe what I saw and the feelings that I felt. I am overcome by the emotions today. I hope I can go back many many more times. I wish I could have thanked each one of them. But instead I had several actually thank ME! Thank ME for standing there and handing out doughnuts. They made a special effort to come and say thank you. There are just no words to express my gratitude to them.

Think Before You Speak!

I am always amazed at people who feel the need to share their opinions with you. Especially if you didn't ask. I know everyone has an opinion and has the right to share it. That's called freedom of speech..that's one of the things our military fights for. But what about when someone decides to use that same freedom against a military member? In the past month I've been witness to this a few times. I have had to let my soldiers, my friends, speak for themselves. I have almost bitten my tongue slap in half while doing this though. While talking to one of "my soldiers" I asked him if he missed life in Iraq. He has just returned stateside in January. I was pretty surprised by his answer. He said, "Yes, I do miss the life there." He said,"Life there made sense and I didn't have anyone telling me what I was fighting for was wrong." He went on to tell me about having a lady come up to him in an airport. He said she walked up and asked if he was military and he confirmed that he was in the Army. Well..for some reason she thought it would be a good idea to "share" her opinions with him. She told him he should go AWOL..never go back to the Army. She said she had a son and when he turned 18 she was taking him to Canada. Now why in the world would you go up to a total stranger and unleash on them like that? She didn't know him! I really wish I had been there. I asked him what he said to her when she was finished? He said her told her to have a nice trip to Canada.

The occasion I had the hardest time with though was with my friend Darrin. We were standing on a side walk and he was in uniform. A man came up to him and started telling him what he thought of the President and how we shouldn't be in Iraq...blah blah blah. Well after about one minute of it I was done! I knew I had to back off and let Darrin handle it. And he did. He defended the President, he spoke for our military and gave his views. That's when I heard the phrase I've grown to just LOVE to death.The man said, " I support our troops, I just don't support the war." Oh my God!!! I can think of very few things that send me over the edge faster than that! I just wanted to beat my head on the sidewalk. But I could only shake my head. When this man left this lady came up.. she told Darrin not to pay any attention to that man. She said she supported the troops...she had a magnet on her car and everything to prove it! Ya know..call me crazy, but I always got the impression supporting the troops went just a TINY bit further than the magnet on your car. Gosh..maybe I've gone overboard with all the care packages, letters. post cards and hours at USO??? I had no idea it was as easy as sticking that magnet on my car! Go figure. But that's ok, she can have her magnet..I'll keep supporting troops in my own way. And trust me it means more than a magnet

Remembering...

I feel as if I should write something for today. But with the day almost over, my mind is still blank..yet my heart is full. I'm a simple person and I think I could be described in a few words..wife, mother, friend..and a patriette ( is that a word? if not it is now) So how can i possibly describe to anyone what Memorial Day means to me? Where do i even begin? How do you remember and pay tribute to those who believed in something so much that they were willing to lay down their lives for it? That's too big for me to wrap my brain around. But I can tell you from my bubble what i witness and what I know. I have seen tens of thousands soldiers leave for overseas. Most times I'm the last person they pass by before getting on the plane. I'm the very last smile, hand shake, be safe or touch they get..because the harsh reality is they won't all come home..Even though the USO motto is "Until They All Come Home"..even the USO can't make that happen. So how do I put that into words? Knowing I'm the last one..it's a heavy weight to carry..but I get to go home to my family..they go to war. They sacrifice everything they have..so i can go home. So I will carry the weight of being the last one. They may not remember my name or face..but they will know someone was there for them.
Which brings me to today..I had all intentions of going to Warriors Walk today..but i didn't make it. I bought the flags and windsocks to take..they are still wrapped up in the bags..i didn't make it. Did I forget? HELL NO..I would NOT and will NEVER forget. One of my soldiers came over for the day. He was alone at home and didn't want to be. So he stayed here. I asked him to go with me to Warriors Walk but he said no. He had memories of his own to remember his friends by. I respect that but I also made a promise to two families..I gave my word I would always try my best to take something to their loved ones tree. and was guilt ridden over the thought of letting them down..but I thought of it all..my soldier was friends with one of the fallen I was going to see..so I wondered what would he rather me do? Leave his buddy alone to go remember him at Ft Stewart? Or remember him in my own way and take care of his buddy? Soldiers are selfless..so I knew the answer. I stayed home. And at sunset I sat alone holding my flag up to Heaven and whispered words of gratitude to each brave soul looking down on me and the sight of the tiny flag blowing in the wind. I guess it doesn't matter how you remember..just so long as you do..
Tomorrow..I go to Ft Stewart and I will keep my promise.

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The Human Spirit

I have only recently become a fan of the TV show Extreme Home Makeover. I always thought the show just went around and picked people who needed home repairs done. Boy was I wrong! The older episodes come on CMT every day. Almost each one is a family who has had some form of tragedy happen to them (which is why they need help). I cry every day when I watch it. Most people ask me why I watch it if it's sad and makes me cry? Well..because even though it's sad, it ends happy..or bittersweet at times. It feels cleansing. The show I watched today was bittersweet..a dying mans wish was granted..and he literally passed within days of seeing his dream come true. Sadly he never made it out of the hospital to actually see the home that was built for his family. But he was awake and aware that it was being done. His wife said that he would live on in the house long after his passing..his spirit would be there. And she didn't mean as ghost spirit..but the essence of him. As I sat on the floor glued to the TV tears made familiar trails down my cheeks. My kids both watching silently with me..and neither of them asked why I was crying. I suppose they felt the same pain the family was feeling..of the kids who just lost their dad. I sat and watched and thought...what incredible beings we humans are. Each one of us so different and special. Some of us give all we have to give..and others take all they can take. Some of us are kind and generous. Others are selfish and greedy.Some of love to the point of being taken for granted. Others never really learn to love at all. Some of trust to the point of being made a fool. Others lie because it's easier than telling the truth.Yet we all possess a spirit.. the spirit of a human is an incredible thing. It can be lifted, renewed, revived, lifted or broken, crushed and killed. I would know for I have experienced them all. But somehow I always bounce back..what does that say of my spirit?