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Paul F. Beatini

I don’t know how many of you happened to catch the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” last night before the NFL game in New York, but it may have been the best presentation I’ve ever seen. Sung by Kate Mara, granddaughter of the legendary Giants owner, Wellington Mara, it was a beautiful rendition that provided the perfect backdrop to the moving visuals without becoming the focal point. It was amazing how fast the emotions of September 11 came flooding back as they reminded us of that day.

I’m very grateful to Dale for organizing the 2,996 Project to memorialize those who were killed five years ago today in those attacks. Today I honor Paul F. Beatini.

Paul was a 40-year-old assistant manager of engineering at insurance company FM Global. Work normally had him in Connecticut and New Jersey, but that day he had a meeting at the Aon Corp. offices on the 102nd floor of the South Tower.

He called his wife, Susan, just after 8 a.m. to tell her that he was in the building’s lobby and on his way to the meeting. He asked her to wish their daughter, Daria, good luck on her first day of preschool.

Because, as it should be with all of us, it wasn’t work that defined Paul’s life. His life was his three girls — wife Susan, and daughters Julia and Daria. Paul had told Daria that Tuesday wasn’t her real first day of school; it was only her orientation. He told her that there was no way he would miss her real first day, so he promised to bring her on Thursday. When she woke up that Thursday, she still remembered that Daddy was supposed to take her to school.

Paul would have celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary on September 14.

Today Julia is 10 and Daria is 8, and Paul and Susan would be preparing for another milestone anniversary. I think about how moved I was watching the memorial last night, so I can’t even begin imagine how difficult today and this week will be for them as they’re constantly reminded of that day. My prayers go up for you guys.