I remember riding a commuter shuttle to the Starlight Children's Foundation where I was working at that time. The Shuttle Driver gasped in shock and turned up the radio as we listened, stunned, to the first accounts that people believed a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I raced up the elevator to the the foundation offices and walked past offices of people desperately trying to reach family members in NY, by phone. We watched in disbelief as the second plane hit the towers and screamed with anguish as we watched the towers collapse.

Terror.

On that morning, an old friend of mine in Boston lost his wife and their 4 year old daughter, Juliana when their plane hit the World Trade Tower. One of the youngest victims of that horrific day. Ruth's best friend Paige was flying with them until she decided to use frequent flier miles and fly on American while they took a United flight. They were planning on meeting at Disney Land. Both planes hit the world trade center and two tightly knit families were destroyed by the worst anguish ever imaginable.

Even now, eight years later the events of that day are incomprehensible.

As I think about my own child and what she has barely survived in her first 6 years in India at the hands of others, I know that darkness exists in souls through out this world.

I also believe in the kindness and compassion of humanity as a whole.... while we remember all those whose innocent lives were lost 9 years ago, let us also pray with hope for a more peaceful future for us all.

http://www.julianamccourt.org/about_us.htm