“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last ...phone calls, the funerals of the children. “ - President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001
Thanks to D. Challener Roe’s Project 2,996, tributes have been made to many of those 2,996 individual people who lost their lives due to the events of that grim day on September 11, 2001. It's important to remember that each of the huge 2,996 number represents people, real people, with families and friends, and hobbies and things like favorite foods or movies and everything else that makes us individuals.
The person I am honoring today, John Charles Jenkins, was an ordinary man. A corporate office services manager for Charles River Associates, he was killed on 9/11 in the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 in New York. He was 45. He was survived by his mother, Florence Deatherage of Kentucky; and two brothers, James of Ohio, and Jeff of Kentucky.
He was described as quiet and spirited, and a loyal friend to so many. One memorial states "John was a wonderful human being. He always was smiling and only said good things about other people." He was an eclectic collector: toasters, old coffee pots, glassware, copies of the New York Times Magazine (he had all the issues going back about 20 years). He collected anything (pots, knives) that had handles made of Bakelite, an early plastic.
One aspect that friends most relished about Mr. Jenkins was his knack for finding humor in just about anything. He once worked as the administrator of an architectural firm that was opening a new office, and the architects were fastidious about making it perfect. Once they moved in, they found out that a dance studio was above them, and no one could get any work done because of the constant thumping. He thought that was hilarious.
"Dear Heavenly Father: May the family and friends of those lost on 9/11 be wrapped in your comforting embrace today. May they be cloaked in a peace that only you can provide. May they have some measure of comfort knowing that their loved ones have not been forgotten. Although we may never understand the reason for this heinous act, may we rest in the knowledge that you are sovereign and your plans for us are better than any we could imagine. We thank you for the opportunity to remember those that lost their lives that day and pray that they may never be forgotten."
3 comments:
Amen.
Thank you for this. I honor Christopher Paul Slattery.
i worked at the architecture firm that you talk about...although not the annex with the dance studio above it. i seemed to talk to john on a daily basis since he was in charge of parking in the lot outside the building and i was allowed to park there sometimes but not all the time. in any case, john was always very nice and as you said had a smile on his face most if not all of the time (even in stressful situations). i was sad to hear of his passing on that day and still remember him on every anniversary. my prayers go out to his family. i want to add my name to the list of people that appreciated john's spirit and generosity of character. i never heard him say an unkind word about another.
"Johnny" lived with my family on Cape Cod when his family had relocated to Kentucky from the Cape. He was like a little brother while he was with us as I had known him for many years prior as they had lived across the street from us. Johnny was sweet, friendly, and did his own thing long before it was cool. I just learned tonight that Johnny was on that plane. My heart is sad to know he was one of the victims of 9/11/01. Gail (Pike)Dietrick, Cape Cod Mass.
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