Published: November 07, 2009 11:22 pm      

Book pays tribute to Flight 93 heroes

Grant Woollacott might be only 17, but he has big dreams of being a bestselling nonfiction writer.

Woollacott, of West Hartford, Conn., attended the groundbreaking for the Flight 93 National Memorial on Saturday along with his mom, Dallas Rodriguez.

Before that, Woollacott read into the record his tribute to the victims of Flight 93 at the joint meeting of the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force and the Flight 93 Advisory Commission at the Somerset County Courthouse.

The youngster aims to have his book ready for publication on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. He has no direct connection to Flight 93 but became interested in the subject through the media and through the films made of the ill-fated jetliner.

“One section of the book will be dedicated to each person,” Woollacott said Saturday, “focused on each person prior to the day.”

Rodriguez said she’s proud of her son and is “looking forward to an agent.”

Woollacott read the following into the record Saturday. He told The Tribune-Democrat the tributes to the victims were “taken from things families have shared that I’ve adapted”:



Many have come today in memory of the heroes of Flight 93.

This memorial will no doubt inspire us today and many for years to come. But when Somerset County fades into the rearview mirror, what will remain?

Love.

Each person aboard Flight 93 possessed a unique spirit and courage long before and ultimately when they were bound together that morning. Courage coming from the French root meaning love.

Imitation is so often said to be the greatest form of flattery.

Perhaps we can find a way of honoring the heroes of Flight 93 in our everyday lives:

Drink wine from the Schoeneck-Schnell vineyard in Biebelsheim, Germany for Christian Adams.

Let your loved ones know you’re thinking of them with a flurry of greeting cards on all occasions for Lorraine Bay.

Come up with a catch phrase like “Let’s Roll” to motivate your children up and out of the house for Todd Beamer.

Explore Buddhism or fight the oil companies for a cleaner peaceful earth in memory of Alan Beaven.

Run with the bulls in Pamplona, fight off muggers on the streets of San Francisco and never forget to enjoy a beer for Mark Bingham.

Get a tattoo or read a book to a child for Deora Bodley.

Be a loving mom and take your kids everywhere in memory of Sandy Bradshaw.

Haunt music shops in search of your nephew’s favorite CDs and never fail to show up at a party with more cheesecake than all of Brooklyn can eat for Marion Britton.

Live by your steadfast American values and go fishing for Tom Burnett.

Learn iron welding or take an annual hiking trip for William Cashman.

Go antiquing for Georgine Corrigan.

See a show at The Metropolitan Opera House for Patricia Cushing.

Help your neighbors and friends with home improvement jobs in memory of Jason Dahl.

Surprise a friend with a gallon of ice cream while they’re sick in bed for Joe DeLuca.

Play baseball well into your 70s for Joe Driscoll.

Learn to decipher difficult computer encryptions and make them fun for others in memory of Ed Felt.

Love your grandchildren and, no matter how contentious your situation is, keep your head up for Jane Folger.

Fight for a cause, tell people that are parking in accessible spots illegally that it will not be tolerated and never allow physical shortcomings to dictate your life in memory of Colleen Fraser.

Go for a run every morning or make prank calls pretending to be Caeser Chavez in memory of Andrew Garcia.

Learn judo for Jeremy Glick.

“Get busy living or get busy dying.” Find a dream – chase it and always remember “You can do it!” for Lauren Grandcolas.

Remind your children you love them with new pajamas every Christmas for Wanda Green.

Take sailing or flying lessons for Donald Greene.

Learn karate, drive a hybrid car and never forget an ice cold margarita and a bag of M&Ms can be a perfect dinner in memory of Linda Gronlund.

Keep the natural beauty of America alive, go outdoors, but don’t pick the wildflowers for Rich Guadagno.

Travel the world with your wife, just because it’s possible. Love your daughter and go watch planes take off when a baby shower isn’t your first choice of activities for LeRoy Homer.

Visit Niagara Falls or the Canadian Rockies and, when you’ve packed too much for lunch, share it with complete strangers for Toshiya Kuge.

Play basketball with your kids, help them with their homework or keep your family up all night playing cards until someone finally wins in memory of CeeCee Lyles.

Don’t let old age stop you from doing cartwheels in memory of Hilda Marcin.

Go salsa dancing, help your co-workers at all hours of the day, “Y nunca te olvides la isla de Puerto Rico.” Or “never forget the island of Puerto Rico,” in memory of Waleska Martinez.

Drink a Starbucks chai tea latte and smile for Nicole Miller.

When there’s a blizzard, pelt oncoming cars with snowballs, even if one turns out to be your father’s. Become a fan of Superman, but try not to crash through a glass sliding door for Louis Nacke.

Become involved at your church and help others around the world in memory of Donald and Jean Peterson.

Smoke a cigar and love every minute of it for Mark Rothenberg.

Preserve the natural history of Hawaii even if it means pulling over on the side of the road to explain to crude, pruning strangers why doing so is wrong. Do it in memory of Christine Snyder.

Go on a QVC shopping spree for John Talignani.

Visit Paris and “Carpe Diem” for Elizabeth Wainio.

Sail down the Nile, read thousands of books, throw elaborate dinner parties on a whim and always have champagne on hand for Kristin White Gould.

Help the poor and homeless for Debbie Welch.

Above all remain courageous.

The Flight 93 National Memorial breaks ground today. It will see fit that long after all memory of the 40 heroes of Flight 93 and the day that took their lives eight years ago leaves the earth that a bridge is built and they will be loved forever.