Tribute to 9/11 Victim: Jessica Sachs

"Follow your honest convictions and be strong."

~William Makepeace Thackeray 

Jessica Leigh Sachs, American Airline Flight 11

 How strange it was while I was gearing up to work on this tribute I realized I had picked a girl whose parents are a hop, skip, and a jump away from my front door in St.Louis, Missouri. Additionally, I picked a girl who died very near to the age I am now. Jessica Sach's was not assigned to me --I picked her randomly from a list of 9/11 victims who had no formal online tribute to them.

Jessica Leigh Sachs grew up in Rochester, Minnesota as the youngest of three children to Steven and Karen Sachs. Later in her life Jessica attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. At the time of her death she was residing in Billerica, Massachusetts. She was aboard the hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 that took off from Boston. In her short life of 22 years Jessica inspired hope in many people, including her parents, through her strong-held belief in God and Christianity. She helped start Mercyhouse Church near the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where her spirit remains alive today.

It's difficult to compose a memorial blog about a person I've never met. It's even more difficult to compose a memorial blog about someone who has no current memorial blog or information to speak of other than one Baptist church article and a 9/11 Victim memorial guest book. Even after "investigating" 20 pages on Google search nothing more than Jessica Sachs- 22, American Airlines Flight 11 is written. I couldn't even find her birthday. After getting to know Jessica and her sweet parents (online) this seems to be a travesty.

Steven and Karen Sachs, parents

I can tell by the comments in her guest book that Jessica was unconditionally kind and strong in her convictions. She made impressions on people that will last their lifetimes (the dean of the University Jessica attended commented that she never put her beliefs up on a shelf to hide, which was uncommon for her young age and peergroup). So I hope that these words pay a tribute, albeit small, to Jessica Leigh Sachs and the life she lived. Rest in Peace.

EDIT: A tribute/news story with more information about Jessica here.

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The Arms of Project 2,996

Other victims of 9/11, like Jessica, are missing formal tributes as well. If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to Project 2,996 please check the bottom of this list. The names without links are the victims with no formal online tributes. To learn about Project 2,996 click here.

My Top Favorite Sad Movies.

I love sad movies. I always have. I loved "Beaches" as a kid and I still love "Beaches" as an adult. By sad movies, usually I mean one where some dies or has to go away. The best sad movies are the ones based more in reality; the movies that remind you of your humanity. Not break up movies or anything Nicholas Sparks, though I've tried to like movies inspired by his books. I'm not a movie snob but "The Notebook" was really terrible, sadly. The ending is not sad and the only good parts are when the couple is young and broken up. "A Walk to Remember" could have been good but instead it was retarded. The best scene is the end. I love a good voice over, staring out into a sunset, reminiscing about the death of your "soul mate", but those movies are nothing compared to the ones on this list, the- saddest-most-heart-wrenching-reminds-you-of-your-humanity-beautifully-painful movies:

1. Beaches

2. My Girl

3. Steel Magnolias

4. Life as a House

5. P.S. I Love You

6. The Dangerous Lives' of Altar Boys
I couldn't find a respectable video of this movie anywhere!
7. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

8. One Last Thing

9. Patch Adams


and the saddest, most beautiful movie of all time

.10 Reign Over Me-

None of the above movies matter after you see "Reign Over Me". It's the most heart breaking movie I've ever watched. It's based on real events and you have to know that after you've watched it you've just peeked into the life of someone who lost the ones(s) they loved on 9/11. Someone that is real.

Charlie Fineman: Then I go inside the airport and I'm watching. I'm watching on the television... and I... and I... I... I saw it. I saw it and I felt it at the same time. I thought about Geena's birthmark, and I... I felt them burning...