Since October of 2001, I have worn this band to honor the memory of Yuji Goya, a 42-year-old Japanese national, husband, father of two, and vice-president of Mizuho Capital Markets Corporation, located on the 80th floor of Two World Trade Center.
On September 11, 2001, as the North Tower of the World Trade Center burned after taking a direct hit from American Airlines Flight 11, Yuji, along with Mizuho president Takashi Kinoshita, and managers Masaru Ose and Keiji Takahashi worked to successfully evacuate the nearly 150 employees of Mizuho from the South Tower.
The four perished as United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into their building at 9:03 am.
I wear this band as a constant reminder of those whom I will never know, citizens of countries all around the world whose lives were tragically ended that September morning. People working innocently at their desks, sitting helplessly aboard hijacked airliners, or hurriedly rushing to the aid of others while risking their own well-being. All of them asking nothing more than to to live as free men and women, and make an honest living for themselves and their families.
I will continue to wear this band as long as I live, so that the tragedy of that morning, and the lives of these people, especially that of Yuji Goya, will not be forgotten.
We must never forget.