2,996

Gary Bright rolled out of bed. It was a clear September morning in Union City, New Jersey. Gary was anxious to get to his new job at Aon Insurance in the World Trade Center. It was September 11, 2001. Gary Bright would never come home.

We remember Gary because of the circumstances of his death. He died as part of a horrible attack, that would change all our lives forever.

On the fifth anniversary of the attacks, we are being inundated with reminders. It's all over the news shows, the papers, the Internet. We are all reliving the awful moments when we found out about this horrible act. We are all reliving the sadness, and the fear.

"The lesson of 9/11" is now a political football. We use it to argue that our political policies are the best, and that other people are mistaken. We argue vehemently about who bears the blame, and whether the five years since have made us safer or not.

But let's not forget Gary Bright. Let's not forget Anna and William Bright, who lost their son. Let's not forget Michelle Hornback, who lost her brother. Our very public tragedy was their very private tragedy. It was a day of horror for all of us, but for the family and friends of Gary Bright, it was also the day they lost a bright and energetic young man.

Anna, and William, and Michelle, and anyone who reaches this page looking for a special tribute to Gary Bright, I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it was like for you then, or what it is like for you now, looking back on that day. I'm sorry I can't do a better job of marking Gary's passing, but I pray for him, and for you, and for us all.

This page is part of a special blogging tribute to the victims of 9/11, called 2,996. I urge you go to there and to look around for more tributes.