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Dedicated to all of the men and women
who lost their lives on September 11 and the
brave heroes and families left behind.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Legacy Letters is the result of an incredible team of strangers coming together to create the best book possible. My sincere gratitude and friendship go to Sara Wingerath at Tuesdays Children, who devoted many hours and nights to the project and who never stopped believing in what we were doing. Molly Lieberman was instrumental in working with the families, and Terry Sears gave her full support from the day we began discussing the idea. Tuesdays Children is a remarkable organization for the families of those lost on 9/11.
We couldnt have been more blessed than to have Marian Lizzi create a home for the book at Penguin. Marians belief in the project, her kind and compassionate approach, and her enthusiasm has set a standard for her fellow editors. Christina Lundy, assistant editor on the project, has gone above and beyond in her duties; Craig Burke, Leslie Schwartz, Jennifer Bernard, Jennifer Eck, Tiffany Estreicher and the entire team at Penguin deserve a thank-you, as does publisher John Duff for having a vision for what this project could be.
On a more personal note, I want to thank my family for their patience. I am a better husband and dad after working on this book.
Most important, I want to thank the family members who opened their hearts to show the world just how much hope and resilience can come from such tragedy. I am inspired and amazed at their attitudes on life, and these new friendships will help guide me forward.
INTRODUCTION
For many of us, particularly those of us in the post-JFK generation, we know when our Where were you when... ? moment came. I lay asleep in my apartment in Los Angeles, unaware of the tragedy unfolding three thousand miles away in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. The phone calls started coming in and, like millions of Americans, I was glued to the television for days. I wanted to help, but how? I wanted to fly to New York and volunteer at Ground Zero, but I had no experience or training that would have helped. I wanted to give blood at an L.A. Red Cross but a recent cold prevented that from happening.
As fate would have it, days after the American skies opened again for planes, I found myself blocks from Ground Zero, meeting with a potential publisher for a book project. I took the liberty to walk as close to the site as possible, and from dozens of blocks away, I could see the enormity of the destruction, several stories high.
As anniversaries of September 11 came and went, I was inspired by the stories of the loved ones of the victims, especially the children, and how so many of them managed to turn such a devastating loss into hope in starting foundations, volunteering, following through on their own dreams or, simply, just getting out of bed each morning and living their lives. They were heroes to me. Finally, nine years after September 11, I thought of this small way to help.
Tuesdays Children, an amazing collection of devoted staffers and family members who continue to provide support and programming for the families and the first responders, was the ideal partner for this project. Together, we offered an opportunity for family members to share with us an original letter to their lost loved ones, letters of hope and resiliency. The response was overwhelming and, as you might expect, the task of editing and selecting letters, difficult and emotional. The one hundred letters in this book were selected for a variety of reasons by the editors at Perigee, yet in no way are they any more powerful or important than the many other submissions, the rest of which were published in a keepsake book for the families. Due to space constraints, many of the letters were edited in some manner but all changes were approved by the letter writers.
As you read through these pages, I hope that you will be as inspired by the stories as I have been in working with the families. From resolute mothers to children who never got to hug their parent, the words are heartfelt and honest and should encourage all of us to live our lives with purpose and to cherish every moment. Along with all of those who volunteered at Ground Zero or in Shanksville or at the Pentagon and those who have protected America since September 11, these are the heroes that are the legacy of those lives lost.
Brian Curtis
DAVID LAYCHAK
David William Laychak was born on January 13, 1961, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Robert and Patricia Laychak. Dave earned a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Syracuse University. After college, he met Laurie Miller while working at the Pentagon and they were married in 1988. They had two children: Zachary in 1992 while living in Syracuse, New York, and Jennifer in 1994 while living in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Dave was a gentle soul who loved his wife, children, church, country and sports. On September 11, Dave was in his office at the Pentagon where he worked as a civilian for the Department of the Army. He was forty years old.
LETTER WRITER: Jennifer Laychak (daughter)
AGE: 16
Dear Dad,
I was seven years old when you were killed. I am now sixteen. I have spent more than half of my life without you. A lot of time has passed, yet those of us who lost someone will never be the same. People think that we have moved on, but I prefer to think that we have moved forward. Our loss will always be a part of who we are. It is part of our story. As I reread what I wrote in my diary as a little girl, I am amazed at how the thoughts and feelings transcend time. I still have the same thoughts (although my spelling has improved). I will always miss you.
People focus on the significant moments. You werent here for my first date, to teach me to drive, or to watch me perform on my schools dance team. You wont be here for my graduation or to walk me down the aisle at my wedding. However, it isnt just the monumental moments that you are missing. It is the small everyday moments. Thats what I miss the most. I have to take comfort in knowing that you are within me. I have many of your physical traits that are a part of who I am. I also have some of your character traits as well. Most importantly, I will always carry you in my heart.
Love,
Jenny
JAMES MICHAEL GRAY
James Michael Gray was born on November 8, 1966, in Neptune, New Jersey, to Patrick and Doreen Gray. He married Jean Ferris and had two children, Colleen and Caitlin. He was a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department, Ladder 20 in Soho. He loved spending time with his family and was a fan of the New York Giants. On September 11, James was called to the North Tower. He was thirty-four years old.
LETTER WRITER: Suzanne Pitzal (sister)
AGE: 42
Dear James,
After almost ten years, there is not an hour or day that passes by that I dont think of you.
