Sunday, September 10, 2006
As part of The 2,996 Project I want to ensure that everyone is remembered - here's a little about another one of our 9/11 heros...
David W. Bernard
David W. Bernard, 57, from Chelmsford, Mass. was an industry specialist for the Internal Revenue Service who was on one of his regular business trips to NYC that fateful day. For most there was very little or no time for good byes – the end came quickly and unexpectedly. It was a different story for David W. Bernard. For Dave and his family the end, while unexpected, was delayed. They had time to say good bye but in the end Dave’s passing was the result of the terror – Dave was struck by falling debris on Sept 11th and survived. For three long months he fought extensive injuries - two punctured lungs, 13 broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade and a severe spinal cord injury. After three months his wife thought he was going to pull thru but fate had other plans. On Dec 11th – exactly three months after the terror attacks David W. Bernard succumb to his injuries. I know that this is so much more time and preparation then many of the families had but still heartbreaking none the less.
From all I read Dave was a true family man and an avid golf player – his family came first and he combined his love of his family and his love of golf. The entire family – Dave, his wife, his 2 sons, his daughter and her husband – would spend time together on the golf course. I read that every July Dave participated in a father-son tournament where he would play the entire 18 holes TWICE so that each son had a chance to play with him. He patiently taught his wife to play so that “when we traveled together we could do it together." (In return, he went shopping with her.)” It was also noted that "Nobody could ever be mad at him. He just had a very easy way about him." said Mrs. Bernard. “He could laugh at himself and had a good sense of humor.”
On a memorial page in the guestbook a long time friend wrote “I knew him for about 30 years. He made everyone feel very special. He liked everyone and everyone liked him. He was a kid at heart but a man in every sense of the word. He is dearly missed by too many people to count. It was my priviledge to have been considered one of his friends.”
My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends for their loss. I hope that time has eased some of the pain. David and the other 2,996 will never be forgotten.
Information gathered from -
http://www.9-11heroes.us/v/David_W_Bernard.php
http://cf.newsday.com/911/victimsearch.cfm?id=3410
http://inmemoriamonline.net/Profiles/Folders/B_Folder/Bernard_David.html
http://www.legacy.com/Sept11.asp?Page=Story&PersonID=161181
