9/11 Victim Edna Cintron: The 'Waving Woman' Who Never Gave Up Hope
Edna Cintron's Life and Work
Edna Cintron was a 45-year-old accountant living in New York City at the time of the 9/11 attacks. Early in her life, she had heard a story about a woman who had waved goodbye to her husband from her office window as he went to war. This story had a deep impact on her. After graduating with a degree in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico, Cintron had started working as an accountant at the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald. She was assigned to work on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Every morning, as she commuted to work, she would wave goodbye to her husband, Antonio, from her office window. This would provide Antonio with peace of mind throughout the day, knowing she was safe and thinking about him. Cintron was known for her positive and cheerful outlook, even in the face of adversity. Her colleagues and friends remember her as always being willing to help others and as having a great sense of humor.
The 9/11 Attacks and Cintron's Fate
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Cintron arrived at work as usual. She was at her desk when the first plane struck the North Tower. She immediately called her husband to let him know she was okay. However, when the second plane struck 20 minutes later, she was trapped in the building. Unable to call her husband again, as she had lost her cell phone, she desperately hoped he would see her waving to him from the window. Cintron was one of the many people who were seen waving from the windows of the World Trade Center as the buildings burned. Her image was captured in several photographs and videos, and she became known as the "waving woman." The images of her waving became a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy. However, Cintron did not survive the attacks. Her body was never found in the wreckage of the World Trade Center. A memorial plaque bearing her name was placed at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Her husband, Antonio, visited the memorial every year on the anniversary of her death.
Cintron's Legacy
Cintron's story is a reminder of the many brave and selfless people who were lost on 9/11. Her image as the "waving woman" has become an iconic symbol of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy. Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we must never give up hope. In addition to the memorial plaque at the 9/11 Memorial, Cintron's legacy is also honored by the Edna Cintron Scholarship Fund. This fund provides scholarships to students from low-income families who are pursuing a college education. The fund was established by Cintron's husband, Antonio, and her friends and family. By providing scholarships to deserving students, the fund helps to ensure that Cintron's legacy of hope and resilience will continue to inspire future generations.
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