Saturday, September 09, 2006

A 911 Tribute To Juan Pablo Alvarez Cisneros

911 Tribute
2996 Victims ~ 2996 Bloggers Remember

2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer Bloggers will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.Each person will pay tribute to a single victim.
We will honor them by remembering their lives,and not by remembering their murderers.
When I signed up for this tribute, I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to put aside the horrors and losses of 911. This tribute is to be a remembrance of a life. Not a memory of murder.
Twenty four year old Juan Pablo Alvarez Cisneros who worked Cantor Fitzgerald as a bond trader.
How can I give remembrance to a man I never knew? All I have is a name and a photo that has been assigned to me..


Well I started thinking how 911 affected me. When I think back, it is not so much the images of physical damage and destruction that haunt me, but rather the images of the peoples faces as they witnessed the attacks (Google Image). Mirroring the same shock and despair on my own face as I watched the news unfold that September morning. Then the images of survivors hoping to hear news of their loved ones in the days to follow. This was a very human story. It was the coming together of a community, a nation, a continent and the world. This incident, made us all feel a gaping loss for innocent lives taken from us. If I could, and still can cry for those lost that day, then surely I can make one of these persons a humble tribute. For this man was not only lost to his family and friends, but to all of us. We have all mourned this tremendous tragedy, and empathize for the families. Even if you didn’t lose someone close to you, didn’t you still cry? Then perhaps we can pause on September 11th to give our respects to those lost that day. The violence of that day opened deep wounds. Five years later, we are healing, but the scars will remain for a long time. I wrote my tribute in the form of a poem, relating to the mother of Juan. Here is my tribute.

Juan of Many


Out of the loss, I learned many things.
How to cry for a mother, whose son was now gone.
Put myself in her shoes, what if her loss were mine.
Would this be a wound that would heal, given time?
When I think of it that way, I know her suffering goes on,
So proud of her son, there will never be another Juan.
A mothers’ call for revenge, for this action most savage,
Our armies went forth, with hearts set to ravage.
Our young men at war, face risk for this reason,
Now she wants them back home
Their safety, a treason?
Every day in the news we hear of more losses,
Row upon row, laid beneath crosses.
Prays for peace in a land, so very far away,
An end to madness, not far from this day.

May God have mercy on their souls.

Amen.

This post will stand untill September 11th.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE ALL THE TRIBUTES.

24 comments:

LZ Blogger said...

Very nice tribute here! ~ jb///

Meira{FB} said...

oh how young, oh how sad, to loose this young man.

mines up also.

Vickie said...

A very moving tribute for one who died so young. So many were so young does it ever stop what we are to lose I wonder?

Thank you taking part in this.

Dick said...

He was way too young but I guess there were many of them who did that day. And as you said the world came together that day, at least partially because it was not just US citizens who died as there were many from other countries who also perished in the Twin Towers.

Anonymous said...

Bless you for this meaningful and heartfelt tribute. Thoughts of love and peace to you and yours, today and every day.
(I am having difficulty posting my comments the usual way so I am trying something different with this one www.dawn-unplugged.blogspot.com)

Anonymous said...

A very nice tribute, Susan. I hope everyone takes time today to pray for all the victims and their families.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

That poem was beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.

I can't imagine losing my own son, or my daughters.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely tribute you gave to this young man. As I read it I thought of my own son who would have been about the same age in 2001 and it was hard to think that Juan was someones son, loved like my own son, whose life ended so quick and tragically.
Faye

Monica said...

So young. All these names and pictures...all these stories we can learn when in the first days there was nothing but shock, grief and anger. It brings it all back fresh again, only now with names and pictures. I hope they are all resting in peace. They truly deserve it.

Louisiana said...

what a lovely tribute. what a wonderful man he must have been. what a sad story-another.

i'm sorry, the only word that keeps coming up for me today, is why? over and over...
**************

i'm sorry it took me so long to get back to your dad.i knew the first day who his daughter was. he had a link to your blog. how nice that the whole family blogs. his site is nice too. sorry about the accident at the resort..glad no one was hurt..

hope Kayla is doing better.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post on such a sad Anniversary. Good for you for remembering life rather than tragety.

Anonymous said...

So your "tribute" was basically wordplay on his name, followed by justifications for fighting? I don't see how you're helping remember him by telling everyone how 9/11 affected you. Quite jingoistic and disgusting. Be ashamed.

Raggedy said...

Wonderful Tribute!
Thank you.
These are sad and hard to read....
I am honored to be a part of this project.
Mine is posted also...

The 2996 link is down. I have a new link on my site to view the participants.

Bless you…

Fred said...

Wonderful tribute, Susan. It was very moving.

Anonymous said...

A very touching tribute for Juan. May he rest in peace. Beautiful poem. God bless America.

kateandjona said...

Thank you for sharing.

Jonathon's Closet remembers Robert Levine.

Ray said...

Fine job remembering Juan, good job. Please see Eddie Dillard if you wish, and thanks again.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely tribute! Thanks for participating and honouring ... they are no longer just a name to us now.

Mine's up.

Politically Homeless said...

Beautiful tribute Susan. I read it twice.

Karen said...

That was a great tribute, Susan. He was so young... may he rest in peace and his family be comforted.

molly said...

You're so right. It's difficult to pay tribute to a life you never knew, but you did it. We mothers all cry for the mothers who lost children that day. A beatiful and sincere remembrance.

Anonymous said...

I finally got onto your site

This was a very nice tribute to Juan.
see a personas life and seeing him gives his life meaning.
Than you for sharing

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm someone needs PreP H

Anonymous said...

Juan was a great person and a great friend. We went to high school together and he was one of the nicest people ever. For not knowing him, I think you did a beautiful job. Thank you for keeping his memory alive.