Waleed J. Iskandar
(1967-2001)
"Wherever he was, that became the best place in the world to be"
| ( Previous ) | ( Next ) |
|
Yesterday, Samia went to Hallmark store to buy the Birthday cards for our children. The three of them were born in August (21, 22 and 25). She stood in front of the Greetings cards aisle and tears started falling from her eyes. This year, she has to buy one card less. One of our children cannot receive a greeting card. One of our children is absent. She could not do it. She came home without the cards. (August 8, 2002) |
|
Today, sister Maria gave us an envelop with a Birthday greeting card . Three priests will be saying Mass in your memory at your birthday. Thank you sister ......... (August 11, 2002) |
|
We agreed that we will buy three cards for our three children. We will mail two. The third we will keep in Waleed's room. Click to read the card (August 15, 2002) |
|
Today's morning mass at Our Lady of Lourdes church was in memory of your birthday. The celebrant priest, Father Francis, at the end of the mass asked everybody present to join in the Happy Birthday song. It was so touching. It was so thoughtful of them ALL. (August 24, 2002) |
|
My dear son I should be celebrating your Birthday, today, August 25 2002. Instead I am living with the beautiful memories of your previous Birthdays, 34 of them. It is going to be a loooong day for your Mom and me. But our relatives and friends will make it look short. Kika and Mounir have driven from San Francisco to stay with us. Many friends of yours will drive from far away places to donate blood in your memory and make your Birthday a special day. I thank them all. (August 25, 2002) |
|
For all those who donated blood on Waleed's Birthday. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. Your gift of your precious blood will help save someone's life. It is heart warming to note that UCLA was very happy with the turn out and would like to be part of a similar celebration at Waleed's next birthday. May the Almighty guard you and all your families safely. The Iskandars (August 26, 2002) |
|
A friend of Waleed and mine wrote to me a message and asked me to try to do the following: Find a quiet place - or a place that you and Waleed used to hang out together - close your eyes picture your son... he's a year older, how does he look, what is he wearing, what's the expression on his face, what is he doing? where are the two of you? what time of day is it? is there anyone else there with the two of you? what would you say to him? and listen for his response ... what is Waleed saying to you? Perhaps he more than anyone has stories to tell you himself. So, I tried to do this in front of his garden in the back yard. I sat and started thinking of him. He was all over me. I had stream of blood rush up to my head. I felt that it is going to explode. I had pain on the sides of my head. Streams of tears started falling from my eyes. Agony ... ache ... pain ... distress ... anguish ... hurt ... grief ... all were inside of my heart. I stopped. I started praying to the Almighty ...................... Oh! How much I long to meet with him. (August 29, 2002) |
|
I received a letter by mail from Jeannie Ammermann, President of America's 9-11 Memorial Quilts. In it was a new poem written by Diane Huggins. It is about our son, Waleed. It touched my heart. Thank you Diane. Thank you Jeannie. Thank you America's 9-11 Memorial Quilts Organization. (August 30, 2002) |
|
Today, I am going to miss your phone call. On every first day in September, you used to send me a greeting card and call me from wherever you will be and wish me a "Happy Birthday". This year and as long as I go on living, I will miss your call. I am reading your last year's greeting card . You have mailed it to me from Santorini, Greece. I will read it and pretend that it is for this year. (September 01, 2002) |
|
Your cousins, Laudy Asseily and Samia Bakhos, with the help of the Lebanese Red Cross are organizing another Blood Donation Drive in your memory. It will be in Beirut, Lebanon. It is scheduled to take place on September 11, 2002. Here are the details:  (September 6, 2002) |
|
A dear friend sent me these words. I am sharing them with you. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I love You and I need You, come into my heart today. For without You, I can do nothing. (September 6, 2002) |
|
Today, Our Lady of Lourdes school had its Mass for the first Friday in their scholastic year. The Pricipal invited us to attend. During the Mass, the children prayed for you. It was so heart touching. It brought tears into my eyes. Thank you Patty Hager. (September 6, 2002) |
|
Sunday September 8, Father Abdallah Zaidan, the rector of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon had a special Mass for the victims of 9/11 and for Waleed. The whole congregation prayed for the souls of the victims. A very touching Homily was given. I felt so near to God. Thank you Father. (September 8, 2002) |
|
September 11, 2002, We are at Ground Zero. We all came to pay tribute to your memory. Thirty thousand persons were there. All of them lost a loved one. All of them are missing someone special. We left your photo with sixteen roses (the number of our group). Each one of us left you a rose. May, was amongst the selected readers (app. 200 readers) for the names of the victims. The music was solemn. The feeling was so touching. The whole scene of the crash rolled in my mind over and over again. It was so terrifying. May God rest your soul in PEACE. 
 (September 11, 2002) |
| ( Previous ) | ( Next ) |
| Home |
