(The following are messages and parts of messages
that we received from friends)
-
With profound sadness, the Monitor family mourns the death of Waleed Iskandar,
a long-time friend and colleague, who was aboard American Airlines flight 11 on September 11.
He was a consummate professional, a gifted thinker, and a joyful soul.
None who knew him well can bear the thought of that voice stilled.
- "I asked God why did you take away the son of Joseph and Samia?"
God answered:
"My son, I have sent down MY son to the world to die and save the World"
- The smile that Waleed had is unforgettable,
and that is how he will stay forever in our hearts.
- Waleed touched us all with his magic. Amanda and I have never known a
smarter, gentler man and I'm so proud to have been his friend.
Everyone he touched he made smile, and everyone he loved he left a better, happier
person. With so much evil in the world, he stood out as a truly good man.
We will miss him so much.
- CELINE says:
"We didn't lose any one, we've only gained an angel."(Celine is a 12 year old niece of Waleed)
- I lost the brother I never had, yesterday.
Waleed was to be a best man in my wedding next month. My fiance, Chris, and I just had Waleed and Nicolette
over for dinner on Saturday. We opened an old bottle of champagne to
celebrate our being together, shared dinner, watched the women's open
final, and drank wine late into the evening.
I find myself continually saying "He was right here, in front of me, in our house.
Right there, and now he's gone".
Our own grief cannot approximate the agony you must be feeling at the loss
of a son. For someone who lived life so fully, with such festive energy and
such heartfelt love for those around him to be taken so suddenly is a
mystery.
I wrestle with moment by moment and will never understand.
Waleed was loved by so many who rally behind you with their prayers and
their
grief.
-
Waleed was in a league of his own in every aspect of life. He was an
inspiration to me & to all those that knew him. He "synonym"-ed a life -far
from privileged, punctuated with horrible events- yet ALWAYS well lived.
With his wings, it seemed that he seared unharmed by what affected the rest
of us. He knew no bitterness. He rubbed off what was sad, & kept all that
was joy.
We will remember him forever & daily.
Pray for us. Live 100 lives in one. Be happy. Love unconditionally.
-
I cannot fully express how much he meant to us and how unbelievably lucky we are to have known him.
Your son was a blessing in so many ways and I will always remember him, not only as Mirel's love,
but as a proud man, principled and good, generous and sensitive, eager and hungry for life.
He threw caution to the wind and followed his gut and instincts, which served him well and etched his great character.
I know Waleed was close to you as well as to his extended family and I am so very sorry for your loss.
I just wanted you to know that, a couple more people, were touched by his life, felt privileged to have called
him a friend and we will mourn him.
- "When there is suffering there is endurance, and when there is endurance there is character,
and when there is character there is HOPE". (from the sermon read in the mass held in Paris)
- "I was a human and it felt good. Now I am among the Blessed and I feel better".
-
I write now to simply send you my deepest condolences.
Truly there are no words sufficient to show the sorrow my family and I feel for you.
I want in my heart of hearts to be able to say to you that there is a reason for the pain this tragedy has brought you.
I want to be able to tell you of all the good that may come and reassure you of the peace you will one day feel.
I want you to have closure.
I cannot attain these wishes despite my deep desire.
This does not, however, mean that these longings I have for you are unattainable.
They are impossible for my finite mind to understand or explain, but the
loving will of God will revel these truths to you.
Time will provide Him with the vessel to convey His wishes for you in your life.
This act was not one of God, but He will be faithful to His promises of peace and comfort.
Be open to Him although every fiber in your body feels such anger and sadness.
He may never answer your questions or leave you without scars but His peace will transcend understanding
and His healing will occur in eternity.
More than anything keep your mind on the temporal state of this world.
Look beyond the void the loss of your son has created in your life and fill it with the vision of the relationship
you will have with him forever in heaven.
Rest your soul in your faith for these are the days that it was given to you for.
Remember that "Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see"
for now is the time to come into the loving arms that will cradle your spirit.
Do not walk this path of sorrow alone but allow yourself to be carried by opening your heart and
anguish to your Creator for He can understand every thread of sorrow.
Fall at the feet of God and allow Him to begin the healing process.
For "Never will He leave you; Never will He forsake you."
-
"Eternal God , your love for us is everlasting;
You alone can turn the shadow of death into the brightness of morning light.
Help us to turn to you with believing hearts.
So that we may have hope and be lifted above our distress into the peace of your presence. Amen."
My dear friends, in life and in death we belong to God.
May the soul of our young departed son rest in peace and may the Good Merciful Lord lend you patience so that
your hearts will find true peace.
God giveth and God taketh away.
Glory be to the Lord.
- "Like a bird in the sky which has been killed,
A wave on the sand has brought it in,
Never will any person be able to take your place,
You will always be present in the heart of all those who knew you and loved you."
- "Since the terrible crash, I have been following articles about Waleed from all sorts of media.
Thank you very much for sending me the under construction website of Waleed.
Last week, I had to submit and present a speech in class about any
article I wanted. I shared with my class mates and teacher about the tragedy
of Waleed's loss. I also prepared the best presentation including his
pictures and articles from different newspapers and magazines from around
the world. The teacher thought that the presentation was so touchy that she
hung it on the central board of the school so that everybody share our
sorrow.(a student from Amman, Jordan)
- Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in the pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
( St. Francis of Assisi )
- God,
grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The Courage to change the things I can;
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
-
Make yourself familiar with the angels,
and behold them frequently in spirit:
for without being seen,
they are present with you.
-
I just visited the web site and read the eulogies. I must admit that I was deeply deeply touched.
You must rejoice for the fact that in such a short time that was available to him on this earth he
achieved so much and brought so much love and pleasure to so many people.
You are always in our hearts and thoughts. We pray to God to help you and to transform your
loss to enjoyment of an outstanding legacy that Waleed has left behind.
May his soul rest in peace.
- Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. Shake it off & enjoy life ....
- Waleed was a GREAT man, who's death leaves a GREAT void,
and who must certainly be one of God's GREATEST angels!
I ache for both of you, but smile at the treasure and inspiration of your son....
who only now am I beginning to get a sense of!
Thanks again for sharing .....
- Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
- Patience is the companion of wisdom.
- Courage is not having the strength to go on ... it is going on when you don't have the strength.
- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. matt 11,28
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