Hi, my name is John McHale from Edinburgh Scotland and now live in Leeds England. Myself and family have just visited the 911 memorial. Out of curiosity I looked at the plaque on the wall to see if any McHale's were amongst the victims and I was saddened to see Thomas's name. I then looked up Thomas on one of the computers and it nearly stopped my breathing when I saw his date of birth, exactly one month before my own. Then I learned his wife was pregnant at the time of his death. That's the point I lost it and couldn't hold back the tears as my wife was 5 months pregnant at that time. I was at home that day, watching our lunchtime news and saw the second plan crash into the tower. Even just watching the TV made me scared and anxious for everyone caught up in it.
I'm 50 now and the trip to NYC was a bucket list treat. I would have loved to have met Thomas as I just have this feeling we would have gotten along ( I too played basketball at high school, watch ice hockey and enjoy a beer or two) and I have even been twice to Long Island as I used to work for a company based in Stoney Brook.
All I can say now is that I'm so sorry for your loss and that I will now always think of Thomas when I hear of 911 and keep his spirit alive.