By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer

Most of us don’t think about death. If we do at all, we would like to believe that we would live a long life. We also wonder if we will be remembered, and if so, how will we be remembered? Will anyone speak of us when we are gone? 

Will Fasick, 17, thought long and hard about those who died on 9/11. He wasn’t even born then, which makes his actions all the more poignant. 

On September 11, 2001 one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history happened on America’s soil. The death toll was 2,996 people, including 2,977 victims and 19 hijackers. Thousands more were injured and deaths continued as a result of long-term health effects on the first responders and those involved in the massive cleanup. 

As of August 2013, medical authorities concluded that 1,140 people who worked, lived, or studied in Lower Manhattan at the time of the attacks have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of "exposure to toxins at Ground Zero.” In September 2014, it was reported that over 1,400 rescue workers who responded to the scene in the days and months after the attacks had since died. At least 10 pregnancies were lost as a result of 9/11. 

Christine Lee Hanson, a toddler who loved Mickey Mouse and making her family smile, was less than an hour into her first airplane ride, sitting with her mom and dad, when her father placed a call to his parents.

“Dad,” Peter Hanson said over the phone, “I think we’re being hijacked.” Peter, his wife, Sue Kim, and Christine, just two-and-a-half-years-old that day, were going to California, where they planned to see relatives and go to Disneyland.

The family was aboard United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to be hijacked. They were among the nearly 3,000 victims who died in the terrorist attacks. Christine was the youngest victim, one of eight children killed that day.

Everyone has been affected by 9/11 differently, and many people lost loved ones that day. Sadly, many people are still losing loved ones due to their proximity to the destruction that was caused that day.

Will Fasick is one 17-year-old who doesn’t want the events of that day to be forgotten.

“To me,” Fasick said, “9/11 should be an inspiration. Our country responded in such a powerful way. We came under attack on our own soil and as a united country we responded with such strength. We should never forget that day or all those we lost on that day. If we felt confused and frightened on that day, imagine how those that lost love ones felt. It should change our country forever as it changed the lives of those left behind. We should never forget them.”

Fasick continued, “It is a tragic and important day in our history. We need a reminder, a ceremony and monument. Our Boy Scout troop has been involved in remembering 9/11 for over six years, and I will continue to be involved.”

As a member of Boy Scout Troop 13, creating the memorial was his Eagle Scout project. The project required an effort by Fasick to raise money to secure funding for the monument. The total cost of the monument was $14,000.

Fasick said, “Scouts have always participated in events on 9/11 even before the monument was installed. A memorial service at the park for 9/11 has happened for years where we would read the names of those that lost their lives.”

Fasick worked for months on this project. He came before borough council seeking their permission to install the monument. He held a number of fundraisers which included two cruises. He spread the word and asked for donations. 

“I learned a lot during this project about construction,” he said. “My scout master Markus Kellerman was a huge support to me. I worked with John Schaible, Public Works Director, who taught me a lot about the installation. I also was totally surprised with the number of people who donated and the support of local businesses and the community.” 

Fasick was very happy to see the number of people that came out for the ceremony, especially the veterans.

Fasick had nothing but great things to say about the opportunities he has been afforded through the Boy Scouts.

“I plan to attend Penn State and major in engineering. I learned so much from scouting that I will use going forward. The Eagle Scout Project was a learning experience and one that I will always remember,” Fasick said.

The monument is located in the Oxford Memorial Park as a reminder to never forget those lives lost on September 11, 2001.