Two thousand, nine hundred, ninety six.

The number of people who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The 2,996 Project has been created to honor the victims on the 5th anniversary of this event. The goal is for 2,996 bloggers to each post a tribute to a victim on that day… by signing up, you are assigned a name and a photo, and you take on the responsibility of honoring that victim.

I just signed up, and was surprised at my reaction. I didn't know anyone who died that day… my closest connection was Tom Burnett, a young father from Pleasanton who was a semi-regular at the Hopyard when my sister worked there; she might have served him a beer or a burger once. But no one who *I* knew died. So why is looking at this photo of a stranger having such an effect on me?

He isn't one of the “famous ones.” I don't know anything about him.

So I take on this task, of remembering him, of getting to know him a bit (I hope) and sharing what I find.

Please consider joining the project… as I write this, there are over 1000 “unassigned” victims and less than a month to go.