September 11, 2002 San Diego California

To honor those who lost their lives one year ago, local radio station STAR 100.7 morning show hosts Jeff and Jer encouraged listeners to come to Qualcomm Stadium starting at 6am to read all the names and ring the “Freedom Bell” for each of the victims live on the radio. Listeners started lining up at 7pm the night before.

I arrived at about 11:30am September 11, and at approximagely 1:15pm PST I was given the honor of reading the name of Steve Mercado. A man I will not meet until I join him in heaven. I too am 38 years old, so when I received his name it hit especially hard.

On my chest I wear a badge bearing his name, his age and the fact that he lost his life on September 11th, 2001 at the World Trade Center, one of many Hero’s our country owes for protecting our lives and our freedom. Unfortunately there isn’t enough room on the badge to describe all the wonderful things Steve stood for. My heart and prayers go out to Steve’s family. Steve will not be forgotten.

A friend from Phoenix, Mike Martin, penned these words shortly after September 11th, and I have them on my computer with a backdrop of the WTC towers:

In sun rises and sunsets, The peaceful nations will stand tall

Through our strides for hates retreat, We may encounter deaths lowly call

But the ringing in our hearts, is for Freedom that we pray

Will prevail and make us strong, No matter what may come our way.

I rang the bell for Steve today…and it will forever ring in my family’s heart, for Steve and his fellow Freedom loving Americans.

Scott Baker
San Diego, California.