Remembering the Youngest Victims of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

September 11, 2001, remains one of the darkest days in American history, changing the country forever. Terrorists attacked the World Trade Center towers in New York City by airplane in a series of four consecutive attacks, claiming the lives of 2,996 people. The tragedy claimed the lives of innocent people of every age and background and from all walks of life. The loss of life is always sad but when kids die as the result of senseless adult decisions, the tragedy seems far worse. These children are the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Christine Lee Hanson

The youngest victim of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 2-year-old Christine Lee Hanson was at the towers with her parents. The family was headed to California to Disneyworld when an airplane struck the tower at 9:03 a.m. Peter Hanson and his wife Sue Kim Hanson also died that day.

Christine’s beloved Peter Rabbit stuffed animal was placed at the 9/11 Memorial Museum to honor the toddler’s memory.

David Gamboa-Brandhurst

David Gamboa-Brandhurst was 3 years old on September 11, 2001, when he and his adoptive parents, Daniel Brandhurst and Ronald Gamboa, died while aboard Flight 175. The family was returning home to Los Angeles after visiting family in Cape Cod.

J uliana McCourt

Juliana Valentine McCourt, 4, and her mother, Ruth, died while passengers were on Flight 175. Ruth’s brother, Ron Clifford, was inside the North Tower when he heard the crash. He ran outside and witnessed the airplane crash into the building, unaware his sister and niece were aboard.

Kids Died on Flight 77

Five other kids died aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it slammed into the Pentagon. Three of the children were 11-year-old sixth-graders traveling with their teacher to California for a trip awarded to them by National Geographic.

Sarah M. Clark

The teacher, Miss Sarah M. Clark, was 65-years-old. She planned to marry her fiancee in the coming weeks and had shopped for wedding bands the day prior to the terrorist attack.

Bernard Curtis Brown II

Bernard Curtis Brown II died on the airplane. His father worked at the Pentagon but happened to be out of the office golfing that morning. Family didn’t realize he was out of the office and frantically worried about him for hours when they learned the tragic news.

Asia Cottom

Sixth-grader Asia Sivon Cottom died on Flight 77.

Asia hoped to become a pediatrician one day. She loved Tweety bird, dancing, art, soccer, and rollerblading. Asia wore her Tweety Bird outfit on the trip that day.

Rodney Dickens

Rodney Dickens was the third 11-year-old who died on the flight.

Rodney was a fan of Pokemon who always helped other kids. His favorite thing ever was wrestling, which he loved to watch on television. Rodney always made the Honor Roll at school, an achievement that made his mother LaShawn proud of her son.

The Falkenberg Famiy

Dana Falkenberg, 3, and Zoe Falkenberg, 8, also died while aboard Flight 77 with their parents.

Charles Falkenberg and Leslie Whittington were on their way to Australia from California for two months. The family missed their connector flight earlier in the day and then made the tragic decision to board Flight 77 instead. All four people died in the attack.

May all the children and adults who lost their lives in the tragic terrorist attack rest in peace. My condolences to surviving family members still affected by this event more than 20-years later.

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Resources & Additional Information:

https://www.911memorial.org/connect/911-family-members

https://pentagonmemorial.org/biographies/rodney-dickens/

https://pentagonmemorial.org/biographies/sara-m-clark/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/christine-lee-hanson-youngest-9-11-victim-remembered-really-special-n1278730