Deena Burnett
San Ramon, California

In this Burnett Christmas photo, Tom is holding twin daughters, Madison and Halley, and Deena is holding youngest daughter, Anna.

Deena Burnett had already heard the news about two planes hitting the World Trade Center on September 11 when she got a phone call from her husband, Tom. He was headed for home on board a plane that had taken off from the Newark, New Jersey, airport that morning. The plane was a United Airlines Boeing 757-flight number 93.

Tom told Deena that the plane had been hijacked, and that he and some other passengers were going to try to stop the hijackers. "Tom believed the greatest accomplishment for any of us to aspire to was to be a good citizen," Deena says. Tom called Deena three more times that morning. Shortly after Tom's last phone call, the plane crashed southeast of Pittsburgh, killing everyone on board.

Tom's patriotic efforts during the last minutes of his life have not gone unnoticed. Countless newspapers, radio stations and television shows have lauded him as a hero. Memorials have been created for him. He has received various posthumous awards.

Now a scrapbook has also been created to commemorate his heroism. At the request of Deena's friend Susan Umar approximately 75 scrappers created a patriotic-themed album in which Deena can mount photos and memorabilia about her husband. This group effort was organized by Gotta Crop! during one of its weekend getaways. Some of the croppers added Scriptures or quotes about America, freedom and what a hero is. The title page of the albums says "Burnett Family Memories."

"Since Deena and I are both scrapbookers, I knew she would value this gift," says Umar. "I also knew that it would be passed down to her daughters and Tom's legacy would live on."

While Deena hasn't scrapbooked since September 11, she has decided what she will do with the scrapbook when she is ready to fill it. "I plan to start with a few photos of Tom, the ones released to the press. I also want a photo of him with each child," Deena says. "Then the pages will be photos of the children and me, of the memorials that were created for him, of the events held and of awards presented. We have dined with presidents, attended galas and traveled extensively to honor Tom. The photographs will reflect these actions."

Deena says she feels "heartfelt gratitude" to the women who designed the album. "I was incredibly touched by the tender loving care that each page portrayed. I carefully turned each page and thought about the women who decorated them. Each one was so individual, yet they all portrayed a sense of pride in our country and the actions of my husband," she says. "I am sure I will find a great sense of comfort from these beautiful pages and the pictures that follow."

The scrapbook will be a way of remembering and honoring Tom. Deena advises other families who lost loved ones on September 11 to "cherish your pictures, record your memories and share them with anyone who will listen.