The events of September 11th, 2001 have been engrained into our national identity, sealed into our minds and our hearts.

    Yet despite the indelible nature of that day and our memories associated with it, for most of us, as time passes on, those memories start to fade around the edges, blurring into generalities. The vast majority of us weren’t in New York or at the Pentagon that day. And although we were affected by that day, shaken to our very souls, our direct interaction with the events were mostly through our television screens.

    For some, however, the memories will never fade. Their memories are finite, not general in the least; painful in their detailed clarity.

    Such are the memories of the O’Shea family, whose loving husband and father was taken from them eight years ago today. As the nation as a whole marks the effect that day had on the general population, the O’Sheas are reflecting on the personal nature of how their lives were forever altered. No generalities are there to soften the blow, nothing serves to fade the edges of their pain.

    Patrick J. O’Shea was 45 years old. He was a devoted and loving husband to his wife Sheila; a caring, dedicated, and doting father to his children, Patrick Jr and Megan. They were his main commitment, his driving force. He spent every hour he could with them, even volunteering with Patrick’s Boy Scout Troop. He loved his family with every ounce of his being.

Pat – as he was known – worked at the Carr Futures offices at the World Trade Center, where he was the First Vice President of Futures. He served on commitees for the Commodity Floor Brokers & Traders Association and the Futures Industry Association. As if that wasn’t enough to fill any professional’s schedule, he was also on the Board of Directors of the New York Board of Trade and the New York Clearing Corporation. Needless to say, he excelled at his chosen profession in every way and was a shining example of kindness, ethical conduct, diligence and professionalism.     But as hard as he strived to provide for his family, he worked just as hard to provide for others. He was a dedicated and loyal supporter of the NYBOT Futures & Options for Kids, a philanthropic organization that has provided over $12 million in funds for children in need since it was founded in 1980. In 1999, Mr. O’Shea was appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors. He also served as the Chairman of the Sales & Merchandise Committee, always striving to come up with new and creative ways to raise funds for children all over the world who were hungry, homeless, or neglected. His colleagues remember him as someone who was always there, always willing to help. His sense of humor, his commitment to others, his kind & caring nature, his devotion to family, proved him to be a gentleman that everyone looked up to.

    As time wears ever on, as our memories start to soften, we must resist this side effect of the passage of time. We mustn’t allow ourselves to forget the true meaning of what happened that day, the reality of what was stolen from this world. That day is so much more than the generalities that have come to be associated with it. That day, the world lost two thousand nine hundred and ninety six souls who were living their lives, providing for their families, caring for others; doing everything they could to make this world better, happier, kinder.

    Patrick was just such a person, one the world desperately needs, now more than ever. He is one of the 2,996 reasons we can’t let fading memories blind us to the true horror of terrorism: the loss of brilliant, beautiful humanity.

Published as part of Project 2,996