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I remember Jose Manuel Contreras Fernandez

Little is known about Jose except that he was from El Aguacate, Jalisco Mexico and he worked as a janitor in the World Trade Center where he was tragically lost alongside those that he worked for.

We can only guess at the life led by Jose. Was he working in the land of the free to support a family back home in Mexico? Or were they with him perhaps? How many passed him each day as he went about his daily duties never knowing his story? Perhaps he shared silent and polite nods in the hallways as he did a most important job. Maybe he even wondered about the people he passed as they most likely wondered about him.

I wonder what his dreams were. An education for his children? Or maybe something simpler. Food on their table, or even a house to call home. Or was he younger, and wanting to make his way in life before starting a family? At the very least it is almost certain that Jose was chasing those dreams. How many of us have the courage to do that? Want something, and then go after it. Jose, for that I admire you. How brave you must have been to leave your home town and try to make a better life for yourself.

Jose, I remember you and I only wish that I could have learned more about you and your life. I can't help but think how sad it is that 5 years on, those that loved you will still miss you yet the world doesn't know what must have been your interesting story.

Click here for a full list of tributes as part of the 2996 project.