Offspring pay touching tributes to parents claimed by attacks

Some 3,000 children lost a parent in the attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City on 9/11. They were babies, toddlers and some yet to be born.

Dena Smagala, whose husband, firefighter Stan Smagala, died when Tower Two collapsed, told the current issue of People magazine the babies were "the last kiss, the last gift". The magazine profiles children of fathers killed before their offspring were born.

Smagala's daughter Alexa, whose father was a crew member of fire engine 226 in Brooklyn, said, "It was hard growing up and not understanding where he was."

Now a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, she said:"I think he had to know he wasn't going to make it out of the building, but he still went in. They made it to the 40th floor. That's when the tower fell. Often when people find out what happened, they kind of walk on eggshells, but everyone goes through loss. It's just that the way mine happened is different."

Jenna Jacobs, whose son Gabriel was born six days after the death of his father Arie, told the magazine: "These children are what comes after 9/11. They are the joy, the salve, the ointment. They're the love."

Letters of remembrance written by children whose parents were killed at the Twin Towers are on display at the 9/11 Museum.

Carolyn Koestner writes of her father, Frank Kostner: "The sky was filled with smoke, and the air filled with screams. People ran for their lives as the smoke chased them through the downtown streets. Embers flickered down through the thickening smoke. Cries were heard all across the nation as people stared at their TV's in disbelief.

"I, too, stared at my TV, but unaware of what was happening. My mother who was sobbing beside me, cried 'daddy's dead' over and over. I hugged her and tried to comfort her as she sobbed. That day haunts me every year. I can't escape it ..."

Pharr Ayn Bowser writes of her father, Kevin Bowser: "The one thing I still remember is my nickname, 'Baby doll'. After you left, everyone started calling me by that name. I used to cry whenever I heard it. I'd run up to my room crying, just trying to understand.

"Why? Why did God take you from me? I even hoped that we could go back in time to that day so I could stop you from going to work, stop you from getting on that train. Anyway I could, I would do it. Love and miss you soooo much daddy, and one day, I will see you again."