25 Years of Remembrance: Honoring the Lives Lost and Remembering the Heroes

The sting of 9/11 is still felt deeply by Americans and residents locally 25 years after the tragic terrorist events that befell our nation those many years ago.

Residents gathered at memorial observances the morning of Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at several locations within the West Shore.

One of the most moving was the tribute paid to Westlake native Christina Sunga Ryook, a Westlake High grad (1994), who perished while at work at the World Trade Center.

Christina is interred at Westlake’s Evergreen Cemetery. Friends, family and city officials stood at her graveside and shared memories of the morning of 9-11-2001 as well as remembrances of Christina.

The family of Christina Ryook gathers at Evergreen Cemetery annually to honor the memory of the fallen Westlake resident who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center.

Christina Sunga Ryook lost her life on September 11, 2001 while working at the North Tower World Trade Center. This bench was placed at Evergreen Cemetery by the Westlake Historical Society and the City of Westlake in her honor.

Christina Ryook gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery

Westlake Historical Society President Dave Pfister led the tribute, along with Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough and members of Christina’s family.

Christina is well-remembered as a Westlake High scholar and member of WHS music programs, where she excelled.

Westlake Porter Public Library has several tributes to Christina on display. Christina’s Corner, in the Library lobby, offers a plaque and description of her days with the Westlake community. Also on display is a fragment of the Twin Towers, presented on the wall of Christina’s Corner where visitors can contemplate the horror of the day.

Another Christina’s Corner sits in the Children’s Section of the library, offering a serene reading area.

In the Porter Room of the library, guests viewed a projection TV presentation of 9/11 tributes live from New York City.

At Westlake Porter Public Library, Christina’s Corner and a display featuring steel from the World Trade Center honor her memory.

The ceremonial ringing of the bell on 9/11 honors the lives lost and marks key moments from the 2001 terrorist attack. The City of Avon brought its antique firetruck for this end of watch sequence.

In the City of Avon, the annual 9/11 observance took place at the Veterans Memorial behind the Fire Station. Chief David Swope recounted the sacrifice of the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives in the day of infamy.

None of us will ever forget the shock of the day. Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen recounted, as many of us have, where we were and what we were doing when we learned of the attacks.

Mayor Jensen remind all that the heroes of the day were those who ran towards the danger to save others, instead of away from it.

May their memories be an inspiration to us all.

About Christina

Christina was taken from us on September 11, 2001 at the young age of 25, while working on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

She touched the hearts of every soul who was lucky enough to be in her life, with her unforgettable love, caring & kindness.

She always remembered her friends’ and family members’ birthdays. Always.

Sometimes the smallest acts of generosity in life, repeated over time, take on a larger meaning. Christina, who at the age of 25 was taken from us on September 11, 2001, while working on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, made this vividly clear.

Christina was born November 15, 1975 in Seoul, Korea. She immigrated to the United States with her parents at the age of four, soon settling in Westlake. Christina had no brothers or sisters, so she treated the world like family instead. After attending Bassett Elementary School and Lee Burneson Middle School, Christina spent much of her time at Westlake High School participating in such civic-minded organizations as PRIDE, SADD, and Teen Institute.

After school, she spent innumerable hours helping people as a candy-striper at St. John Westshore Hospital. To top it all off, she was an active member of the Concert Band, Jazz Band playing the mellophone and clarinet, and maintained strong grades and membership in the National Honor Society.

After graduating high school in 1994, Christina attended University of Michigan, where she continued to find avenues through which to express her generosity and love toward others. She worked daily as an assistant teacher at a local daily care center, Jack and Jill. On campus, Christina served as President of the Asian American Association. Furthermore, as Cultural Arts Chair of the Korean Students Association, she successfully organized the annual cultural program for adopted Korean children.

Christina graduated with a degree in psychology in 1998, and then continued her education at Eastern Michigan University pursuing additional degrees in history and education.

Christina took a break from education, but not from her generosity, when she moved to New York City in the fall of 2000. In her brief time there, she made numerous friends, called her parents daily, and continued to send birthday gifts-always arriving right on time-to her friends and family in Ohio, Michigan, and elsewhere. Few have made love seem so effortless, generosity so routine.