Colgan Flight 3407

As you have probably seen, Continental Connecting Flight 3407 crashed just outside of Buffalo, NY last night. It is the first fatal commercial airliner crash in 2 1/2 years in the US. 49 people on board were killed immediately as it crashed into a house in Clarence Center, NY. One man was killed inside the house, while miraculously, two people inside escaped to safety from the ruined house. My immediate thoughts turn to the victims of this tragedy and their families, among whom was a widow from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

This woman, whose name was Beverly Eckert, was flying back to Buffalo to celebrate what would have been her husband's 58th birthday. I had met her once, as she had a family member (her father, I believe) at the same nursing home that my mother was in. My father had gotten to know her quite well, as he used to go to the nursing home every night for his "dates" with my mom. He was with her soon after the 9/11 attacks, and was moved to tears after hearing about her loss on that day. I didn't know if he had heard, so I called him this morning and when I said her name, he said "Oh, no!" and began to cry all over again. This is from a man who is not moved to tears very often. My heart goes out to her family, for having to suffer all over again. My wish and hope for her, is that she is reunited with her husband somewhere...

This really hits close to home with me, actually literally as well as figuratively. This happened about 4 miles from my home, so its doubly alarming that something this large happens so close to your own little world. I don't have much more to say about it, its extremely upsetting to think about those people and the terrible loss.