2996 ~ A Tribute

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.
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I Remember Allan Shwartzstein
World Trade Center ~ Tower 1


There's not much on the internet about Allan Abraham Shwartzstein, 37. He wasn't famous, just a face in the crowd of thousands ~ an unknown to you & I. But to his family & friends he was a bright start that faded out too soon & now a hero to us all.

Allan was best known as a husband to Amy, father to Matthew & Jessica, a brother, a son & a friend. He was named after an uncle who died in Israel in 1948. He was a simple man who preferred ratty t-shirts & worn out shorts to the suits & ties he wore to work. After 15 years on Wall Street, he still wore the watch he had received for his bar mitzvah. According to those that knew him, he was genuine, what you see is what you got. He didn't worry about his appearance or what came out of his mouth. When I look at his photo I can imagine that he told it like it was.

In March of 2001, Allan had joined Cantor Fitzgerald as a managing director and partner & his office was located in Tower 1 on the 104 floor. His wife Amy said that Allan was just the kind of guy that would put others in front of his own needs and he was probably busy helping others when the towers were hit instead of thinking of his own safety. He was an avid tennis player and skier and an amateur guitar player. According to his younger brother, Michael, he was a humble & down to earth guy. He had a quality about him that made others feel really good.

Every day we encounter countless people, people we never smile at or greet. We are too absorbed in our own lives. One thing I have learned in researching Allan is that life is too short. We never know what could happen next in our lives. I imagine on the morning of September 11, 2001 started out like any day for the people in New York. Their commute to work was like the day before. The ride up the elevator filled with conversations while people on the street pushed past one another in silence. I can only imagine how the rest of the morning went as I sat safely in my home thousands of miles away. Since September 11, 2001 I've become aware that a simple smile from a passerbyer can change my day. Whose life can we touch by suddenly becoming more aware of those around us & taking a few seconds to call out a greeting? I wish I had known Allan. I'm sure those in his life were blessed beyond blessed to have counted him as family or friend. I will never forget you Allan Schwartzstein and I will continue to pray for you, your family and to all those we lost.



Please link up if you are a participant so others can read. Thanks. Please feel free to leave comments. Also don't forget to read the other tributes that you can find on DCROE's blog.