Mary Boonenberg:

I dislike writing about myself, but Sarah and I thought it best to include at least a little background information about us here. After all, you don't know us from Adam, and why should you trust us with something so dear to your heart as your memories of your loved ones? I can tell you, I would want to know who I was dealing with if I were you.

I am 51 years old, born and raised in the downriver area of Detroit, Michigan. I have eleven brothers and sisters, ten still living, and most of them are still in the greater Detroit area. I understand what it is to lose a loved one. My brother Mark died at the age of four when I was eleven, and my Dad passed in early December of 1980.

After the horrific events of September 11, my friend Sarah emailed me a link to a site that was charging people to post a memorial to their deceased loved ones. To me, the very idea was unthinkable. Sarah and I had already teamed up to make a "Prayer Vigil" webpage in response to the attacks, and after she showed me this link, we decided that we could provide webspace and page design for the victims' families and friends at no cost.

It is our hope that through word of mouth, the families will be made aware of the existence of this site. They may then contact us, or not, to have a memorial page for their loved one. We will never approach them or intrude on them in any way. Sarah and I decided that it would be best if the people closest to them made the decision to tell them of this site, since people are very different in the way they grieve.

We hope that, through this site, people from all over the world will be able to get to know a little bit about all the people that were lost that day, and, closer to home, that having a memorial page for their loved ones will provide the families with some small comfort. If this site provides solace to just one person, then it will have been worth doing.

Sarah Draven:

First, I would like to express my deepest heartfelt sympathy to all who lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy. Though I knew none of the victims personally, I have cried endless tears for them all, and continue to feel the ache of this massive loss of innocent victims from an act so vicious and cruel, it is still unbelievable. Each person lost deserves a purple heart and medal of honor, as they died for being a part of the freedom that is America.

I was also born in Detroit - coincidentally Mary and I lived only a few miles from each other, though we never met until this past year. I now live in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee near the North Carolina border, after living most of my life in Southern California. I have one sister, and both parents living - thankfully - not far from me.

As with thousands in this unforgivable mass murder, I lost my fiancee 6 years ago at the hands of drunken maniac, and am still trying to recover from the grief, I know the endless heartache of having someone suddenly taken away with no sensible cause. When this attack happened, I had that same helpless, lost feeling.....WHAT can I do? Wanting to give comforting words of support to all those suffering was impossible, and Mary and I shared these kinds of feelings until the idea of this memorial site became a reality. Thanks to Mary for providing the webspace, to begin what I hope will be the tribute and honor each victim deserves.