Since then I've been trying to find out how to send some money to Tom's family in his memory as a tribute them ... and as a symbol of my gratitude that he and some of his fellow passengers were able to save our nation from untold further suffering. Surely we could have lost the Capital building. Perhaps worse, the President might have been forced to have had the plane shot down. I don't know which would have brought more anguish to us as a people. Either way, the terrorists would have won. Thank you, Thomas Burnett, from the bottom of my heart.

Over the past few days I've tracked down a fund that will allow me/us to do that. First of all, the article on CNN that described the tragedy (http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/12/family.reacts/) mentioned that the family's priest is Rev. Frank Colacicco, of St. Isidore's Church. I found their website (http://www.st-isidore-danville.org/Ministries/EucharisticMinisters.html) and called the number listed there (925-837-2122). I spoke with Michelle who told me they were setting up a fund and would call me back with information. Not hearing back from them that day, I called again and Eileen Perez told me they were very busy preparing a memorial service, but that Tom's company was setting up a fund and she would email me with that information when they find out. On Friday I received an email from her with this attachment:

"Thomas Burnett Memorial Trust FUND
5/29/1963 to 9/11/2001

Memorial Trust Fund for the Children
of Tom Burnett has been established.
For further information check

http://www.thoratec.com"

This website had the information on where to send donations. I wanted to have the money go directly to his wife so I called the contact person mentioned there (Kelly Trevethan, 415-438-2926) and got a recording saying I could email him. I did so and received this back from him on Saturday night:

"David,

A trust fund has been established for the direct benefit of Deena and her
three girls. If you have any further questions you can call me at
415-505-0584.

Regards,

Kelly
----------------
Kelly Trevethan
Executive Director
The Trevethan Group @ CIBC World Markets
(415) 438-2926 Direct
(415) 505-0584 Mobile
(415) 438-3086 Fax"

I also received a phone message from Michelle telling me to check his company's website "Thoratec.com" for information on the "Memorial Trust Fund for the Children of Tom Burnett". The address in the .pdf file linked there is:

The Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Family Memorial Fund
C/o CIBC Oppenheimer Corp.
Account #074-17387-10
580 California Street, Suite 2300
San Francisco, CA 94101

I think I've covered all the bases. I'm sending a generous contribution. Not being a natural born leader though, I look at him in awe and hope that I would have the same courage if swept up by a similar crisis. As a symbol of that, I'd like to offer to the Z3 Message Board my services in order to represent the sentiments of our group. If anyone cares to, they can make out a check to the fund listed above. You can mail it directly to them. Or if the idea of contributing as a group appeals to you, send it to me and I will forward however many I receive together in the name of "The BMW Z3 Message Board, www.bimmer.org/z3/messages". Please email me that you are doing so that I'll know how many to expect, and when, before mailing them out together.

Yours truly, David G. Pavlik