In Memory of Stanley L. Temple

4 Total Comments
Page:  1 of 1

God bless you! I did not know you but felt for you that day. You will always be in our thoughts!

*** Posted by Daina Collins on 2009-09-11 ***

Remembering you on this sad anniversary.

*** Posted by angela on 2008-09-12 ***

I originally posted this tribute to Stanley L. Temple, a man I've never met, on my blog and at the Project 2996 site.

* * * * * * * * * *

Here is what I know of you:

Stanley L. Temple
77
New York, NY
United States
World Trade Center

In all the memorial sites and the newspaper articles, there are no memorials to you. No family members and friends write of your life, no obituaries mark your birth and passing, your work, or those you left behind. Where the click of other names leads to smiling photographs and poignant tributes, broken links follow your name, or the simple words of school children and respectful condolences of strangers.

Like this, from Sindy:

I seen that no one has wrote u and it made me feel so bad. I hope that u are in a better place now. And I hope that your family are recovering as best as they can. May God bless you and your family.
Or this, from Kasy Jo:

I am so sorry you were a victim hope your family doing well. I am sure you were a great person. And I am sorry that happened to you and your family.

God be with you always

Or this, from Kaitlyn:

Dear family of Stanley L. Temple, At my church today we prayed for your family and read your husband/dad's name to each other and thought about every person that lost their life's on this very terrifying day. With much love, Kaitlyn:-)

Nothing more. You are a mystery.

But there are some things I think I can know just from your name and age. You were born in the twenties, a child of the Great Depression, one of the Greatest Generation. It is likely you served your country in World War II or Korea, as you would have been a teenager at the start of the first war, a young man at the finish of the second. Perhaps you loved a wife and raised a family in New York when the wars were over, and watched your children grow to adulthood through the turbulence of the 60s and 70s. Having lived to 77, you certainly worked, perhaps at your heart's vocation, perhaps just to pay the bills. And you had dreams. I know you had dreams.

As I write this I like to think that your last day was spent in the tower viewing the city from the observation deck, enjoying the peace of retirement in a favorite place. I like to think that somewhere in New York your family and friends think of you now, sad that you are gone, but filled with memories of a long life well lived.

I remember you. Our country remembers you. And although the details of your life are a mystery, we mourn your loss as deeply as if you were our father, or brother, or son.

* * * * * * * * * *

On September 13, 2006, an anonymous comment appeared on the original post on my blog:

I did not know Stanley personally, but worked as an employee of the City of New York to assist his family in obtaining a death certificate in the wake of the Trade Center disaster. Stanley worked shining shoes for the employees of Cantor Fitzgerald. He was not on their payroll, but his presence and employment was verified by enough surviving employees of Cantor Fitzgerald that his family was, after some wait, able to obtain a death certificate without the three-year wait usually required in case of a missing person. I don't know if his sister will see this tribute, but it's lovely to know it's out there. Thank you.

And then, on September 11, 2007, I found this remembrance on another tribute site:

I came across this page in remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy, and saw that no family members had left no response. I'm really hurt to see that that has happened because I know you have family in New York and Virginia. I tried many times but to no avail to find out what happened to you. Even today I cant get the respond needed. I only hope your loves did the right thing. For now I truly know that you are at peace with your loving wife Margret for I personally will truly miss and be hurt at the phone conversation we had about not visiting you more often when she passed.

In loving remembrance
Your Godson
Harry

You are remembered, Stanley. We do not forget.

*** Posted by Margie P., Alexandria, VA on 2008-09-11 ***

My Godfather, you were for me when I needed you, and yet I have failed to be there for you. I really tried, but because I'm not blood, I couldnt do anything to bring you home. I only wish that you are at least at peace with your lovely wife Margret.

*** Posted by HARRY FAIRLEY on 2006-09-14 ***

4 Total Comments

Page:  1 of 1