Saturday, September 11, 2010
Nine Years Later - 9/11 in Cliffwood Beach
We dropped by the waterfront at Cliffwood Beach to see the Twin Towers memorial lights. Turns out a number of fishermen were down at the beach tonight, fishing and enjoying bonfires.
After visiting the beach, my wife and I went to the 7 Eleven on Route 35 in Cliffwood Beach to pick up coffee and snacks. When we mentioned the twin lights, the store manager told us that he lost six customers to the attacks that fateful morning nine years ago. He reminisced fondly about one of them in particular. Steven P Chucknick, a regular customer who lived in Cliffwood Beach and worked at the World Trade Center, had picked up coffee and special ordered something on his way to work that day. Both expected Chucknick would drop by in a few days to pick up the special order, but that wouldn't happen. The manager, who saw first one and then two smoking towers from the Parkway later that morning, walked us back to his office, where he showed us Chucknick's funeral card. He still keeps it on his desk to remember a wonderful man.
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Odd as this post may seem, coming from Austin, Texas...I wanted y'all to know that after 9/11 my cousin gave us all memory bands of those who had been taken from this world on that unimaginable day. The bands were randomly engraved, and mine was STEVEN P CHUCKNICK with WTC underneath. I have worn it everyday almost everyday since for ten years. We recently suffered a fire and that band and a box it was in are the only two things that have gone missing in the cleaning process. I like to think that maybe someone saw it and wanted to also honor the Americans who were lost. I don't know why I write this other than to just reach out to the family and community that I have never met but think about and pray for constantly. Much love and good will is being sent your way from down here deep in the heart.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous in Austin Texas...I don't know if you will ever read this, but I am hoping that something will draw you to this site as it has drawn me here tonight. I usually check all the sites such as Legacy and the 9/11 memorial site for new tribute that have been made, because I like to respond to the people who take the time to pray and remember those lost on 9/11. Steve Chucknick was and is my husband. He lives in mine and our sons hearts now. I too wear the bracelet that you describe. I am so sorry that yours is lost but sorrier that you had to go through a fire. I pray that it wasn't too bad and that you and your family are all ok. I don't know how you came across this site, because to be honest I have never seen this part of it. I know the owner of this 7-11 and he has never told me of the beautiful tribute he had written. He is such a wonderful man, and I saw he for the first time in a long time at the end of 2011. I live here on the East Coast, and as you know we were just hit very badly with Hurricane Sandy. My son and I were blessed because outside of losing a couple of trees and power, we are alright...someone was watching over us. As I volunteered after the storm, I noticed that parked right across from me in our Church Parking lot are the Disaster units from Texas and Oklahoma. All of these people have been a blessing to the entire east coast. My point is, that we are all connected in one way or another. Thank you for wearing my Steve's bracelet all these years and for praying for him. And thank you for the posting that you put on here because I feel blessed to see that 10 years and now its 11 years that so many people still remember those who were lost on that horrible day. I pray that you and your family are Blessed and safe from harm. Thank you again
DeleteSincerely
Barbara Chucknick....wife of Steven Paul Chucknick
I'm sure the family will be pleased to hear that they've been prayed for all these many years. Sorry to hear that you misplaced the bracelet.
ReplyDeletePat...thank you so much for writing such a wonderful tribute. Steve was my husband and yes he would always run into that 7-11 every morning for coffee. The special order that he had as the owner Jig to get were the plastic containers that kept the milk cold....Steve was VP of communications and facilities for his company so asking Jig to get him those containers was so that the employees milk for their coffee would stay cold. Steve was always thinking of ways to make people happier..And he was so very loved by all. Something drew me to this site tonight because I didn't even know this tribute was here. I happened to see a reference to it on another site. I am usually on the Legacy or 9/11 memorial site looking to see if there are any new posts, because I like to answer all those who remember my Husband....So thank you Pat..thank you for remember an incredible man. Should you ever have the time, you can pull up art work of Randy Soard called "The Faces Of the Brave"...My Steve is of 3 civilians included on that poster, because it was verified that being he was the fire warden for his company that he stayed to make sure everyone got out...his company unfortunately lost 61 employees that day. Steve is in two places on that poster...on the 1st line and near the firemans leg....again, thank you for this tribute
DeleteSincerely
Barbara Chucknick wife of Steven Paul Chucknick