Originally published at NEWS8 by on 11/19/14
NEW CANAAN, Conn. (WTNH)– New Canaan’s Mary Fetchet lost her son Brad on September 11, 2001. He had called her husband right after the first tower was hit; he was on the 89th floor of tower 2. That was the last time they heard from their 24-year-old son.
Fetchet, a social worker by trade, though grieving, started mobilizing to help other families and founded a 9/11 advocacy non-profit organization called Voices of September 11th.
She also launched the 9-11 Living Memorial Project so that the stories of those who perished could be told.
“We’ve collected over 70,000 images telling the story of the life of the person who died, not focusing on death, and it was a very therapeutic process for the families because with each photograph came a story or a remembrance of their loved one and the life that they shared with them,” said Fetchet. “I think that is one of the most important projects that we’ve worked on, and we’ve shared copies of each of those photographs with the museum, so it’s a major contribution to the memoriam exhibit that’s at the 9/11 Museum in New York City.”
“When somebody dies they’re with you every moment,” said Fetchet. “It’s different somebody’s alive, they’re with you when they’re with you, so I certainly feel that Brad and other people have provided some guidance along the way.”
Fetchet also campaigned for the creation of the independent 9/11 Commission testifying before Congress.
For more information and how you can help, visit www.voicesofseptember11.org and www.911livingmemorial.org.