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.

*2996 is a coalition of volunteer bloggers brought together by D.C.Roe's idea to commemorate the lives of those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For a complete list of participants, please click HERE* Please Note: due to the volume of traffic the "Participant's list" may not be working. If it's not, come back again later when the volume of people should be down. Most of the people who have left comments have done a tribute themselves. If you click on their name, you will get their site and their tribute.

I found this ALTERNATE 2,996 site because the original site is down at the moment.

Please check this out: BLOGGING CHICKS CARNIVAL It is a carnival all about 9/11.

I Remember … I had dropped my eldest son off at school and returned home. I had turned the tv on to watch something (I can’t remember what now) and to my horror the first plane had hit a tower. I was stunned. Then more stunned when another plane hit the other tower (that I watched live). Then the plane that hit the pentagon. And the plane that went down before it could hit anything. This plane went down due to the heroics of some of the passengers. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A huge lump went into my throat first for the people on the planes, then for the people in the towers. At this time I never dreamed the two towers would come crashing down and killing so many innocent people. Killed by deranged terrorists; with a distorted revenge that only terrorists can understand.

An event that changed the course of history. New phrases came out of this such as: Home Land Security and Ground Zero. New forms of security had to be developed in airports, train stations, subways, etc. Our very way of life has been changed forever…

William J. McGovern
49 Years Old
Smithtown, New York
Chief, 2nd Battalion, New York Fire Department
Confirmed Dead

It is my honor to pay tribute to Willaim J. McGovern, who died as a Hero on September 11, 2001 while doing his job. I'm sure when William McGovern went to work he never dreamed that he would be a witness and a participant to an event of such magnitude. He never dreamed that he would die doing his job in Tower One. He's one of 2,996 people who lost/gave their lives to help others. There were many stories of many people trying to help their fellow man. On that eventful morning he was last scene around the 30th floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center doing his job, trying to save lives.

His wife said her husband must have been one of the first firefighters at the World Trace Center, because the 2nd Battalion, which he led, was stationed only a quarter of a mile away.

From reading what I could find about William McGovern, he was well liked. It has been said that when he walked into a room, everyone knew he was there. He liked to entertain and make sure everyone was having a good time - lots of laughter, lots of jokes.

Trying to save lives at the World Trade Center wasn't the first time he put his life on the line. I'm sure he, like all firefighters, put his life on the line many times. It was recorded in one particular incident when he and another firefighter rushed into a blazing building, crawling on their hands and knees to stay below the smoke and found a brother and sister lying on the floor. The boy wasn't breathing. McGovern and the other firefighter got both children out and resuscitated the 7 year old boy. McGovern was later quoted as saying, "I'm thankful I could give him a second chance. I saw him come back to life. It's the greatest experience I ever had."

William J. McGovern is a Hero. He put his life on the line to save others and sadly lost it. He leaves behind a wife, a son and daughter. Also, his mother, two sisters and two brothers.

Added 9/11/06; 2:21pm: I just found out that there is a special United In Memory Quilt Project . Each victim has a block on this quilt. To view William J. McGovern's quilt block Click Here .