9/11 Tribute for Gregory Wachtler

This is to honor Gregory Wachtler, who was age 25 when he was killed on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center on the 93rd floor of the North Tower due to a terrorist attack. He worked as a research associate for the Fred Alger Management company. Gregory was a resident of Ramsey, NJ. He liked to play basketball with his friends.Here are some thoughts from a co-worker.

Because he was avid participant in blood drives, his friends, family, his company, and many generous donors raised enough money to purchase a Bloodmobile in his honor and in honor of all those who perished on 9/11. Here is an article about this. Gregory's parents, Paul and Nassima Wachtler of Ramsey, teamed together with Community Blood Services to collect 15,000 pints of blood - the same amount that was lost that fateful day when 3,000 perished. As of February 2006, they reached an additional goal to raise enough money for an additional bloodmobile, which will be known as Gregory's Bloodmobile and will bear his likeness as an incentive to other young people to make blood donations a part of their lives.

Gregory is an alumni from Rutgers University, who also honored all those lost in the 9/11 attacks. Here is an article about another blood drive in Gregory's honor at the Rutgers Student Center.

I found this list of victims from 9/11 that were alumni of Rutgers University, including Gregory Wachtler. Four alumni were on board Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. One alumni was aboard Boston Flight 175 that crashed into the WTC. Thirty-two Rutgers Alumni died in the World Trade Center on 9/11, and two alumni family members also died in the World Trade Center that day. That is almost 40 people, and those are just the ones related to Rutgers University, somehow.

The goal of the terrorist is to make us say, I am afraid. Well, I say, I will not fear, but trust in my God, who is my refuge and strong tower. I will not be afraid. God's Word in the Holy Bible says that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10, NAS version) . What those terrorists did was definitely stealing, killing, and destroying innocent lives. They destroyed the life of Gregory Wachtler and thousands of others.

That morning on 9/11/2001, I sat on my couch nursing 5 week old Dancer Girl. As I watched the news, I cried and prayed for hours. On that day, I did not know Gregory Wachtler, or anyone else in those towers or on those planes. Well, Dancer Girl is 5 now and someday I will sit her down and tell her what terrorists are, and how unlike our God they are. A God of life and hope and mercy.

I pray that we will become consolidated in our beliefs that no one trying to follow that which is good and right will participate in or endorse any behavior that leads to stealing, killing, or destroying any human life. God gives us mercy and grace, and I think every human is due our respect and prayers, especially the victims. Also, I say, pray for the terrorists. Apparently they are clueless, if somehow they can wholeheartedly believe that the death of humans is for God's glory and will lead people to know Him. God have mercy on their souls, and may they turn away from the ways of destruction and death, and turn towards life, mercy, and peace.

Gregory Wachtler gave of his own blood countless times so that others might have health and life. Leviticus says that "the life of the flesh is in the blood." (Lev 17:11, NAS). Terrorists took away the lives and spilled the blood of thousands. May we not be wasters and destroyers like the terrorists, but givers and promoters of life like Gregory.