Remembering 2,996 people, one by one
by Mir Kamin
The idea is simple, but powerful: have a special tribute for each victim of 9/11, with each tribute being created by a different blogger. We started 2,996 Project to coordinate the creation of the tributes, and that's what this site is all about.
Thus begins D.C. Roe's explanation of the 2996 Project. Tomorrow, the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedies, will bring the usual solemnity, the usual shedding of tears by those who lost loved ones, the usual feelings of sadness and fear and remembrance of where we were when we heard the news. It will also bring tributes to 2,996 lives lost in the attacks, written by over 3,000 different bloggers.
I've been reading a bunch of different renderings of what seems to be at least based upon a quote by Stalin; the basic gist is that one lost life is a tragedy, but a thousand lives lost is a statistic. The 2,996 Project endeavors to return the humanity to those lost in the terrible events of five years ago.
It's hard to conceptualize so many lives lost. It's harder still to read the details of their lives. I've been reading tributes all weekend and every single one has moved me to tears. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Tragedies, every one. Not statistics.
I've read about Lt. John A. Crisci. And Irina Kolpakova. About Salvatore Calabro. And Craig Damian Lilore. All portrayed as vibrant, loving, family folk who are sorely missed.
You can follow the links from the full list of participants, or just go click around some of your favorite haunts in the blogosphere. Many of the posts are already up. More will be posted tomorrow.
Have tissues handy.
My condolences to all who are grieving this week, and my gratitude to all of the 2996 participants for keeping the memories of the people, rather than the events, alive.
Mir
BlogHer Contributing Editor Mir also blogs at Woulda Coulda Shoulda and Want Not.
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Comments
What a Great Idea
What a great idea to remember those who lost their lives. Thanks for letting us know about it.
Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen
thank you
for reading.. it's heartbreaking all over blogland today. almost overwhelming. we sure did lose a lot of really great people that day.
*grabs tissues*
Thanks, Mir. We'll be using this in our blog tomorrow. And I'll be reading through them tonight. (I'm working my last overnight shift. One day left.)
Just thank you.
Family Living; Hatfield Style - Our Family Blog
The Chronicles of MunchkinLand - My adoption blog.
Jenna
It *is* a great idea
But am I a horrible person if I don't look at them? I can't. I just can't bring myself to do it. I've felt so guilty because DC Roe's blog is one of my regular reads and when he put out the request for people to participate, I ignored it because I knew I couldn't handle it. It just hurts too much.
I Think About
Great Idea
I can't even remember how I came upon DC Roe's site but I did this past summer and decided to participate in this project. It wasn't easy to write a tribute to someone I didn't know. I found myself reliving those days all over again as the date drew closer. I was married on the 8th in a destination wedding so many of our friends and family got stuck at the wedding location. Some of our friends and wedding guests worked in the Towers and got home the 10th. Some called in sick that day too tired from the trip to go to work, and some went in. We were lucky, so lucky, to have all our friends survive. I will never forget my new husband coming home that night and packing "just in case" as he is a Marine. Or the tears in my Mom's eyes as she watched him pack. This is always a hard day.
http://www.themummychronicles.blogspot.com
I would greatly appreciate it if you, or
someone you know, has
a 2996 tribute up, you would stop by both my blogs and leave a direct link in the comments today...especially the latter blog. I wasn't able to participate, but I would like to spread the word as much as I can.
Ninja Poodles
Ninja Poodles LOCAL
Thanks so much.
Belinda
DAMN IT
It seems to be down right now. Bad timing by that internet host. Mental note: don't use them. Suspended page? I'm SURE it's getting slammed bandwidth wise right now but to suspend a page dedicated to Sept 11th victims ON Sept 11th? That's cruel. Don't use ehostpros. Apparently in "cheap web hosting" you get what you pay for...
Sorry. So mad for this project right now.
Family Living; Hatfield Style - Our Family Blog
The Chronicles of MunchkinLand - My adoption blog.
Jenna
2,996 Project
Thank you for your kind words, Mir. It has been my honor to participate in this project and remember Irina Kolpakova.
It is always enlightening to be a part of something so much bigger and so much better than our everyday world.
I know Dale, Jeni and Justice are working like mad to get the site back up and running ASAP. (Jenna, you are so right about cheap hosting AND about suspending a 9/11 tribute page on 9/11. Looks like the Grinch doesn't just hit at Christmas, eh?)
Julie
Gah to the Grinch, honestly! Such a shame. (Visionhead Technologies is our host. They've been down three times, for less than five minutes each, in three years. Each time, it's been when I've actually been ON the site updating something. Their contact page emails/texts them immediately when you report that a site is down. I <3 them.)
I do not <3 your Grinch. Let us know when it's back up. The forums at adoption.com had to take down the link we posted because too many people were trying to hit it and got the errors. Let us know and we'll get it back up.
Family Living; Hatfield Style - Our Family Blog
The Chronicles of MunchkinLand - My adoption blog.
Jenna