Beverly Eckert, a widow of a victim of the September 11 attacks, was killed in the crash of Continental Express Flight 3407. Eckert had become an advocate for families of 9/11 victims and was flying to Buffalo to honor what would have been her late husband's 58th birthday. Her death brought grief again to the community of those who lost loved ones on 9/11.

1. Beverly Eckert, Sept. 11 Widow, Died in Fiery Buffalo Flight 3407 Crash - ABC News#.... Page 1 of 2
Beverly Eckert, Sept. 11 Widow, Died in Fiery Buffalo Flight 3407
Crash
By LEE FERRAN
Feb. 13, 2009
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The crash of Continental Express flight 3407 Thursday night has brought
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tragedy to the friends and family of all 50 victims.
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But for one family, grief has struck for a second time.
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Relatives of Beverly Eckert, whose husband died in the Sept. 11 terrorist
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attacks, say she was aboard the Buffalo, N.Y.-bound flight when it crashed
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Eckert was flying to Buffalo to honor what would have been her husband
Sean Rooney's 58th birthday. She was scheduled to present a Canisius
High School student with a scholarship created in his name.
After the 9/11 attacks, Eckert became a passionate voice for all the victims
of the attacks on the World Trade Center and co-founded the Voices for
September 11th, an advocacy group for survivors and victims' families.
At the White House today President Obama singled out Eckert after
expressing condolences for all the victims. "She was an inspiration to me
and so many others," Obama said.
Last week, Eckert met Obama in the White House with other relatives of
the victims of Sept. 11 and the bombing of the USS Cole to discuss the new
administration's fight against terror.
"The 9/11 community is devastated," Mary Fetchet, founding director of
the Voices of September 11, told "Good Morning America." "Her death is
reverberating through our community."
On the morning of the Sept. 11 airplane crash, Rooney was
in the south tower of the World Trade Center. He spent the
last minutes of his life talking to Eckert on his cell phone,
while trying to find a way out. .
53yr Old Woman, Looks 25
Mom reveals simple wrinkle
trick that has angered Eckert's sister Sue Bourque told The Buffalo News that in
doctors...
www.ConsumerLifestyleMag.c the midst of the tragedy, there was some consolation.
"We know she was on that plane and now she's with him,"
she said.
Rooney and Eckert both attended Canisius High School in Buffalo, where
they where high school sweethearts.
Though she has not received official confirmation that Eckert was on
board the plane, Bourque said she was positive that her sister was on
board.
A Crusade for Safety to Honor a Memory
After 9/11, Eckert became a vocal lobbyist who pressed Congress to
"correct the failings" of that infamous day and pushed for the creation of
the 9/11 Commission.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6870794&page=1 5/22/2012

2. Beverly Eckert, Sept. 11 Widow, Died in Fiery Buffalo Flight 3407 Crash - ABC News#.... Page 2 of 2
"She was such an important part of all of our work," said Mary Fetchet,
another 9/11 family activist, told The Associated Press.
In 2004, she tearfully told ABC News it was a calling that fell to her after
her husband died.
"I didn't choose this role that came to me," she said. "My husband was
killed. I owe my husband, I owe his memory to make something of my life
after Sept. 11."
Flight Victim Eckert on Voices of Sept. 11
Eckert served as co-chairwoman of Voices of September 11, an advocacy
group for the relatives of the victims.
Eckert testified before Congress and, along with a small group of Sept. 11
widows, walked the halls of the Capitol repeatedly to draw attention to
her cause.
During a 2004 testimony before Congress, Eckert recounted an emotional
phone call from her husband in his final minutes while he was trapped in
the World Trade Center buildings.
"When the smoke and flames drew near and Sean knew he was going to
die, he remained calm, speaking of his love for me and for his family," she
said. "I hope I never see the day when another widow has to walk in my
shoes. The time to act is now."
That same year the intelligence reform law was passed. For Eckert, it was
a long-awaited victory.
"I did all of this for Sean's memory, I did it for him," she said then. "There
is a euphoria in knowing that we reached the top of the hill. ... I just
wanted Sean to come home from work. Maybe now, someone else's Sean
will get to come home."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6870794&page=1 5/22/2012