Waleed J. Iskandar
(1967-2001)
"Wherever he was, that became the best place in the world to be"
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We wish you Merry Christmas. Ten Christmas days have passed by. Every year we feel the void you have left behind. Lil Tepley gave us a present, two medallions with your picture engraved on them. I wear mine around my neck. This way your picture will be next to my heart. We miss you much. We love you. (December 25, 2010) |
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We wish you Happy New Year.
Today we will visit the Cemetery and pray to God to make the New Year a year full with Happiness and Peace. We will celebrate the New Year with your uncle and aunt. It is the tenth New Year Day since your departure to the eternal life. We miss you much. We love you. (January 1, 2011) |
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This is the tenth year we celebrate Easter Sunday without you. You were in our prayer during all the Holy week. On Sunday we will visit the cemetery, as always, after mass. We will fill the vase with roses from the garden. This year we had plenty of rain. The roses are doing wonderful. We miss you tremendously. We love you much. (April 24, 2011) |
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My son! Today, May 1 2011, the US Navy Seals killed the person responsible for that horrific act of terror against the USA. After almost ten years, Bin Laden is killed in a compound in Pakistan. Justice has been done. May the Lord rest your soul and the souls of all who were killed on September 11, 2001 in peace? (May 01, 2011) |
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I always thought that Bin Laden eventually would be found. America exhibited the kind of determination it needed to show.
The Navy Seals executed what is necessary. His death does not bring back our son who died that day. But, sure, Justice has been served. (May 01, 2011) |
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Today, August 25, is your Birthday. You would have been 44 years old. We remember it with a huge lump in our throat.
We would have preferred to hug you and tell you in your face “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”.
But, we will pray for you at our daily mass. We will visit your niche at the Cemetery and adorn the vase with a flower in your memory. We love you son! (August 25, 2011) |
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After a mammoth tragedy like the one we personally experienced on September 11, 2001,
I learnt that one has to achieve three things in order to go on living the rest of his life: 1- Have Faith. 2- Learn Acceptance. 3- Think Positive. I have faith. I learned how to accept. I strive to keep a positive thinking attitude. Every morning I ask the help of the Lord to keep me on track. All day long, I endeavor to "Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction and Faithful in Prayer." (September, 1, 2011) |
The Blood Donation Drive in your memory this year will be on Sunday September 18. On Saturday, September 3, your sister and nephew will insert in the OLL Bulletin the flyers for the drive. We hope this year the show up of Donors will be many.  |
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This year we will be visiting Ground Zero on September 11. Your sister, May, will be one of the Readers of the names during the Ceremony.
On Monday September 12, the 9/11 National Memorial Museum will open to the public. We intend to be there at the time of inauguration.
The two Memorial Pools at Ground Zero are now ready, but the rest of the project is still under construction. Here is the web address for the "9/11 Memorial Guide": http://names.911memorial.org/http://names.911memorial.org/ We will remember you and pray for your soul. (September, 3, 2011) |
The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the WTC is built on 8 acres of the 16 acres of Ground Zero space. It includes "The Museum Pavillion", "The North Memorial Pool", "The South Memorial Pool" and "The Memorial Plaza". Here is an image of the site:  (September 4, 2011) |
Amongst the wreckage of the World Trade Center, a callery pear tree was salvaged in October 2001. It was nursed back to health at "Van Cortlandt Park nursery" in the Bronx. It is known now by the name of the "Survivor Tree". In December 2010 it was replanted in the plaza of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, This tree has become to symbolize life and hope. Here are two photos of the "Survivor Tree" in 2001 and 2011. 
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The TV "Discovery channel" and "Science channel" are showing this week a TV series named "Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero". It is produced in six episodes each episode is one hour long. I have watched them all. There is in them a view of the "North Memorial Pool" with your name showing on the North Western side of the pool. Every time this segment shows my heart leaps for you. The 9/11 Memorial committee have done a great job at Ground Zero. They have created a place of Remembrance for generations to come. Here is a video of the pool with the waterfall flowing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Z_i5KzHVc Thank you for the beautiful work. (September 6, 2011) |
Here is a layout of the Memorial at Ground Zero: Please click on the North Pool:  Your name is engraved in the bronze panels that surround the pool. Here is the Panel numbered N-1 that shows your name: Please click on Waleed's name:  Your name is there forever. (September 7, 2011) |
Your sister today surprised us by having a tattoo on her lower left foot. She has your name in Arabic in Calligraphic font. Thus she has your name where ever she is. Here is a photo of it:  September, 8 2011 |
Today is the 10th Anniversary Ceremony on the WTC grounds. The names of all those who died on Septamber 11, 2001 will be read. Thousands of family members and attendencees are present. Your sister is reading some of the names. Here is a video of her reading (Please click on her name below): May Marconet After the ceremony, we visited the North Memorial Pool and the Memorial Plaza. We went straight to the bronze panel number N-1 which displays your name (Please click on his name below): Waleed Joseph Iskandar The Museum Pavillion is still under construction. It will open next year. September 11, 20011 |
After the ceremony, we visited 9/11 Memorial Organization office. Your Mom and I decided to donate your plastic cards which were recovered from the debris of Ground Zero to the Organization. The cards will be displayed under your profile in the Museum Pavillion. They will be available for the generations to come. September 11, 2011 |
Every year Orlando, Florida remembers 9/11 by giving a Ceremony of Remembrance and planting 2975 flags in Lake Eola Park. Each flag has the name of one of the victims who died in September 2001. At the end of the ceremony the audience will be encouraged to pick a flag and take home with them. Gil and Anna Kunster live in Orlando. They sent me a message that this year the flag which they picked was with the name of our son, Waleed Joseph Iskandar. They also sent me a photo of the flag. Here is its photo:  Thank you Gil and Anna. September 14, 2011 |
I received a message from Mrs. Michele Hilliard telling me of what happened to her on Sunday September 11 after she attended the Sunday mass at St. John Eudes church in Chatsworth. After his Homily, the priest mentioned that there are two baskets at the exits of the church, full with bracelets with the names of all those who died on 9/11. He encouraged the parishioners to pick a bracelet and pray for the name written on it. The barcelet that Mrs. Hilliard picked was yours. Now you have a new friend who will remember you and pray for you. Thank you Michele for writing me. You made my day. September 19, 2011 |
On the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11, Shepherd of the Hills planted 3000 US flags, one for each victim who died on September 11 2001. Our friend Carol Garcia visited the church and took a photo of the flags. Here is what she mailed us.  Thank you Carol September 23, 2011 |
The USA and the whole world were thinking about you and about all those who died on September 11 2001. They prayed for all of you. Many newspapers and magazines wrote reports and articles in your memory. Here are some of them: The German Magazine "Stern" wrote the following: September 11, 10th. Anniversary "The Daily News" of Los Angeles wrote the following: Loss of those killed on 9-11 leaves an emptiness The Lebanese newspaper "The Daily Star" wrote the following: Relatives remember cousin "MSNBC News" wrote the following: Relatives of victims of 9/11 My sincere thanks for all who sent me links for these articles. September 24, 2011 |
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