Toddlers from around nation to gather in N.Y. to celebrate Sept. 11, 2001, birthdays

Associated Press ^ | 08/11/03 | JENNIFER FRIEDLIN

[bedolido]

NEW YORK -- Andrew Wasilewski is a chubby-cheeked toddler from Mississippi. Katie and Kathie Johnson are identical twins from South Dakota. Alyse Dansby is a playful 23-month-old from Alaska.

These children come from far-flung places, but they are united by a common twist of fate: They were born on Sept. 11, 2001. Andrew, the Johnson twins and Alyse were among 28 toddlers from 27 states who came to New York for a two-day birthday celebration that began Sunday with a buffet dinner and birthday cake decorated with an American flag.

Sept. 11 ``was such a tragedy, but in the light of tragedy, something so wonderful was happening,'' said Alyse's mother, Susana Dansby, standing in a sea of parents and toddlers dressed in red, white and blue. ``I just feel close to these people.''

[beaversmom]

``These children were born on Sept. 11 for a reason,'' Wasilewski said. ``As long as he goes through life and shows people that there's no reason to fight and argue, I'll be happy.'' ___

I thought Sept 11 taught us that there are things worth fighting for.

[bedolido]

lol

[Hatteras]

Aren't they about a month early or did I miss a month back there somewhere?....

[dead]

People are weird.

[SouthernFreebird]

'Good Lord, what are we doing?' But then you look at your baby and you see a good reason to go on.''

I think most of us looked around and said "Oh Lord, what can we do"? We looked around at family, friends, neighbors and strangers young and old alike and saw reasons to go on.

I don't know why but this whole thing just bothers me. Ahh to each his own I reckon.

[SouthernFreebird]

'Good Lord, what are we doing?' But then you look at your baby and you see a good reason to go on.''

I think most of us looked around and said "Oh Lord, what can we do"? We looked around at family, friends, neighbors and strangers young and old alike and saw reasons to go on.

I don't know why but this whole thing just bothers me. Ahh to each his own I reckon.

[ChemistCat]

It strikes me pretty strange, too. Oh, I have friends with an anniversary on Pearl Harbor Day, but they don't feel a need to blend the two events and "celebrate" them together.