East Lansing, MI - September 11, 2020
Contact: Lisa Wootton Booth, 517.333.6984
Most Americans remember Todd Beamer, the 9/11 hero who said “Let’s roll,” before fighting back terrorists aboard United Flight 93, bound for an attack on Washington, D.C. In the struggle, the flight crashed over a Pennsylvania field.
Few Michiganders are aware Beamer was a Flint native. The Michigan Remembers 9/11 Fund has now identified 42 people of Michigan who perished in the 9/11 attacks, including people who were born, grew up in, or had other ties to the state.
Twenty-three of the 42 victims, more than half, were identified and added to the list through extensive research completed in 2020. Profiles on the honored dead are at https://michiganremembers.org.
“It has been our mission to remember every person from Michigan who lost their lives on September 11, 2001,” said Patrick L. Anderson, one of the founders of the Michigan Remembers 9/11 Fund and a survivor of the New City attacks.
Anderson is best known as the principal and CEO of the Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, but he was also staying in the World Trade Center Marriott for a conference, narrowly escaping with just one shoe on his foot.
“This year, we are recognizing 23 more souls from our state who perished on that terrible day, bringing the number of Michigan victims to 42,” Anderson said. “As we commemorate the 19th anniversary, we pray for every one of them, and invite others to read their stories and reflect on the great loss we endured that day.”
Mr. Anderson and his AEG Group co-worker, Ilhan Geckil, escaped from the World Trade Center during the 2001 attacks. They and Scott Watkins and Megan Boone, also both former co-workers, serve as trustees of the fund. His story was featured on the national PBS series “We’ll Meet Again’’ in 2018.
Preparing for next year’s 20th anniversary, the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund has worked since its founding in 2007 to remember each victim from Michigan so they can learn or remember how 9/11 impacted the state and nation.
The Fund is a 501c3 charity and its efforts are entirely supported by private donations. The Fund has previously sponsored “Run to Remember” events, High School essay contests, and sponsored participation by Michigan first responders to the World Trade Center for 9/11 events.
Joyce Ng, President of the September 11 Survivors Foundation, is a survivor and author of “Hotel 9/11,” the only history book dedicated to the Three World Trade Center, the building, and its survivors. She and Anderson have worked together since both miraculously escaped in 2001.
“I commend Patrick Anderson and Michigan Remembers for their continued efforts to remember the lives lost on 9/11, Ng said. “Our world was forever changed by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. Michigan Remembers continues to honor this significant event by augmenting the names of those killed from Michigan. We will always remember this day.”
