A Father Remembers Sept. 11

It has been one year since Edward Medwig's 46-year-old daughter, Deborah, died on United Airlines Flight 175, a victim of the terrorist attack. But the crying hasn't stopped.

"I just can't handle talking about it, " Medwig said. "And my wife, she just doesn't want to be reminded any more."

Ed couldn't talk due to grief. So, he wrote this note to his daughter.

A Father's Tears

It's a year since you have been taken from us. A year filled with never-ending tears -both types, good and bad. Joyful ones with memories of you as an infant sleeping on my chest with me holding onto you tightly. Watching intently your child- hood games, like Hula-Hoops and bicycle rides. Watching you proudly throughout your school years and then, suddenly it seems, into adulthood and motherhood.

There is a tremendous void in our hearts that will never be filled. Your loss was much, much more than just causing a "fuss." Words cannot describe properly how much we love you and miss you. Until our time arrives, when we can join you in heaven, watching over and protecting your daughter, our granddaughter, you are always on our minds and in our hearts.

Sept. 11 will be recorded in history, if it has not been already, as America's most notorious tragedy. Thousands lost their children, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends, true innocent Americans attempting to rescue and save others making the most extreme sacrifice. God bless them all.

A 9/11 memorial is planned throughout America on the tragedy's first anniversary. We appreciate the thoughts, prayers, remembering and caring, but for us, this will be a never-ending process of everlasting anguish in our hearts.

"Gran & Cookie," Edward And Betty Lou Medwig, Parents of Deborah Louise Medwig

About Deborah Medwig

Deborah Medwig was on her way to her home in Los Angeles from Boston where she worked on United Flight 175 that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Her husband, Michael Tavolarella, was traveling that day on a separate plane from Boston to Los Angeles. Deborah had insisted that they both take separate planes to make sure that, if anything ever happened to her, someone would be around to take care of their daughter, Cassandra. 

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 11, 2002