Weeks ago I stumbled upon a website proposing that 2,996 bloggers each write a memorial post for one of the victims of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. I decided to join in and was assigned to write about Mr. Alan N. Palumbo, 42, from NY and working at Cantor Fitzgerald and confirmed dead.

I did not know him, nor do I know his family. I am sure he was loved and is remembered by family and friends. I imagine, as I write this post, that they will be living a difficult day tomorrow on the 5-year anniversary of the death of Mr. Palumbo, and to them I extend my condolences and prayers.

Can you believe it has been 5 years already? I have been criticized for writing this post, even more so since I am not an American, I did not lose anyone of real significance in 9/11 and yet I volunteered to write this post.

Did the United states brought it upon themselves? Did they somehow cause this tragedy? I believe not more so than those countries afflicted by natural disasters, such as the tsunami, or earthquakes. I believe that no matter what human lives; innocent human lives, should not be taken. To this day we do not know exactly what happened, as there is an official version and many many theories. However, this day is carved in the memory of millions of people, not only Americans, and not only those who by losing someone became even closer to the event.

I remember exactly what I felt that day, as I spent the day glued to the TV for every up to date information we got. I remember that I could not believe it was happening. I commented on the many times we had seen New York being destroyed. But that was from movies. It could not be happening for real, could it?

So, for many people, fate had in store for them their last day, either aboard the planes or inside the buildings. Alan N. Palumbo was one of 658 employees from Cantor Fitzgerald who died that day. Their offices were located on the 101 – 105 floors, directly above the floors where the impact was calculated to have happened. Cantor Fitzgerald was the employer who lost more employees on 9/11. Alan N. Palumbo was one of them, one of hundreds of people who went about their lives that day, much the way we did, and without warning or reason, became a casualty of this yet to be defined war.

As I said, I feel for his family and for his friends. I feel for all of those who lived through that day to have their lifes completely transformed. I feel for all the people that have lost their lives as a result or consequence of this day. Because, when I promised to write this post I also promised to mention those affected after 9/11, people in Iraq, in Afghanistan, or all over the world who have been killed, hurt, discriminated and attacked. Both soldiersd and civilians. Many of them victims too.

So, let this be a post celebrating people’s lives. Not only those who have been lost, but those of us who live, for as long as we are alive. I wish I had more to say about Alan Palumbo’s life, I know little about him, the websites that mention him are only lists of remembrance with little or no information, however, let this not be a hinderance to celebrate his life.

2,996

Alan N. Palumbo
World Trade Center

ALAN N. PALUMBO, 42, of New York, was just two days shy of his 43rd birthday when he was killed in the World Trade Center. A broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, he never skimped on quality. “He lived a good life,” said his brother, Gary Hersch. “He ate the best, drank the best and went top-shelf wherever he went. I don’t think he had any regrets.” Palumbo also stayed tight with a neighborhood group of childhood friends. “He was a character,” said Mark Unrein, a friend. “He excelled in all the neighborhood games. Basketball, cards, stickball, pitching quarters.”

Copyright © 2001 The Associated Press

Tomado de Legacy.com