University Park Gathers to Remember the Fallen Five

Zoe was bright and relentless. Dana was curly-headed and spirited. Charles was the ultimate neighbor and helper. Leslie was an awesome mom and teacher. Sheila was avid gardener.

It was a solemn ceremony in University Park Sunday afternoon when neighbors, friends and teachers shared their memories of the .

The Falkenbergs— Charles, 45, Leslie Whittington, 45, Zoe, 8, and Dana, 3— were on their way to Australia for Leslie's sabbatical, while Sheila Hein, 51, was working an Army internship in the Pentagon, when American Flight 77 hit the building.

With musical interludes from a string quartet, residents got a chance to know the Falkenbergs and Hein a little better with the help of stories from their friends.

Councilman James Gekas was the Falkenbergs' neighbor and inherited their cat, Stella, after they died. Gekas talked about how Charles and Leslie met, when they bought their home and Charles' knack for throwing a good block party.

He talked about their parenting. How they read to Dana and Zoe every night and allowed them to explore their creativity.

University Park resident Lori Arnold talked about how Sheila and her partner, Peggy Neff were avid gardeners. She talked about Sheila's internship and read a note from Neff, who no longer resides in town.

"We loved living in University Park," Neff told Arnold in a letter. "We cherished all the memories we made here."

Michelle Rowland, a teacher at University Park Elementary, taught Zoe in her 3rd grade year. Rowland reflected on Zoe's intelligence and tenacity, her love of Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket novels and her love of soccer.

She talked about her encounter with Dana at one of Zoe's soccer games, where she dug up rocks and worms and brought them to her as presents. She talked about Dana's creative outfits and talked about their parents generosity towards the school.

She reflected on how in college, probably majoring in something she was passionate about and Dana would have been 13, socially-savvy and texting her friends constantly.

The Rev. Loril Hawk, pastor at Riverdale Presbyterian Church, asked residents to reflect on what they learned from that day and asked them to continue to be good neighbors to one another.

The town rededicated the memorial site, which was designed by resident Tom Ashcraft, to mark the 10th anniversary. Each stone placed for a life lost and the limestone bench were decorated with bouquets of roses and the plaque was lined with American flags.

The ceremony ended with a performance of "Taps," played by Brandon Eubank on the trumpet.