It was one of America’s most horrific and tragic days, however two victims from the 9/11 terror attacks found love while grieving for their fathers who died in the tragedy.
Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire wed in a romantic ceremony on Saturday, just two days before the 16th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in which they both lost their fathers, according to The Inquirer.
Brielle’s father was 51-year-old Victor Saracini, captain of United Flight 175 that was hijacked by Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda and plummeted into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in the 2001 attack.
Sean’s father, 40-year-old Patrick McGuire, worked on the 84th floor at Euro Brokers Inc in the South Tower and was in the building when the plane struck.
Brielle and Sean are pictured here on their wedding day in Austin, Texas
Pictured left is Brielle’s father, 51-year-old Victor Saracini, who happened to be the captain of United Flight 175 that went down on September 11 2001. Patrick McGuire (R), 40, is Sean’s father who worked on the 84th floor at Euro Brokers Inc. at the time the plane struck
Brielle Saracini (L) and Sean McGuire (R) wed in a romantic ceremony on Saturday, just two days before the 16th anniversary of the September 11 attacks where they both lost their fathers
Patrick had planned to flee the building but a miscommunication saying the situation was being dealt with meant he stayed and died.
Both men left behind their wives and children – Victor had two daughters and Patrick had two sons and two daughters.
Brielle and Sean were just 10 years old when their respective fathers passed away and met two years later at Camp Better Days in New Jersey, solely dedicated to those who lost loved ones due to the terror attacks.
‘We met two years after 9/11, just kids who used to hang out together and match up against one another in pool and basketball, who eventually fell in love,’ Brielle said.
Speaking of their blossoming romance and love Sean said: ‘We were brought together by this tragedy, but we are definitely not defined by it.
‘Our relationship is so much more than the way we met. That being said, I think one of the reasons that we connect so well is because we have that common ground,’ he admitted.
Brielle is seen walking down the aisle with her late father’s best friend Steve, who is also a pilot
Brielle pictured here met her now husband at a camp solely directed at children who lost loved ones on the September 11 attacks
Brielle was only 10-years-old when her father, Captain of United Airlines Flight 175, passed away
Both Sean and Brielle’s mothers, Ellen Saracini and Danielle McGuire, were attended their children’s ‘fairy tale’ wedding in Austin, Texas.
Ellen Saracini, Brielle’s mother, joked and spoke fondly of her late husband: ‘Victor joked that he had an application to date our daughters’
‘He teased about how anyone who would date his daughters first needs to fill it out, and pass in his opinion, with 100 percent.
‘I mentioned this at both of my girls’ weddings, and also told both of my sons-in-law that they didn’t have to worry, they were pre-approved!’ Ellen said.
Ellen’s other daughter, Brielle’s sister Kirsten, married in June this year.’
‘I wondered what would be his last words to his unmarried little girls,’ Ellen continued.
‘There are no words to truly express the multitude of emotions, but as you look at the smiles on the girls’ faces, as you feel the love of this young couple and all those attending, you cannot help but feel love in your heart, and that is what Victor and I always wanted for our girls,’ she said.
Brielle is pictured here on her big day with some of her wedding guests
Brielle, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins’ lymphoma in 2013, also spoke about the emotional day: ‘It felt like a fairy tale – a dream wedding that was absolutely perfect, destined by fate.’
Brielle is pictured here with her father Victor, who tragically died during the 9/11 attacks
‘We had a nice moment of silence in our ceremony to recognize their presence in our relationship and in our lives,’ she added.
‘It was important for us to do so, to properly honor them and pay respects to how they raised us and shaped us. I also wanted to keep a seat open for my dad, so I placed his captain hat on a seat in the front row,’ she continued.
‘The biggest takeaway from 9/11 for me was that you might be able to break down steel and structure, but you can never destroy love,’ she said during the service.
‘I would spend my weeks at camp with you, falling in love with you more and more with each day we spent together, wishing our nights stargazing would never end. We grew up together, shaping each other, learning from each other, and grounding one another,’ Brielle said.
It was difficult for Ellen to not feel overwhelmed and emotional without Victor by her side that day.
‘I feel the void,’ she said. ‘Victor is not here today, Victor will not walk his daughter down the aisle, there will be no father-daughter dance. Victor will not be beaming with joy and pride for his greatest accomplishment, his daughters.
Brielle said of her meeting with Sean: ‘I would spend my weeks at camp with you, falling in love with you more and more with each day we spent together, wishing our nights stargazing would never end’
‘He will not experience Kirsten’s and Brielle’s happiest day. He will not be holding my hand, looking into my eyes, smiling with me. Unless I believe. The weather surrounding Kirsten’s wedding day was cold and rainy, but on the day she married, it was sunny and warm, not a cloud in the sky, just contrails painting the blue.’
‘When we arrived in Austin it was muggy and hot, but for the days of the guests coming to celebrate it was unseasonably cool and pleasant, just to return to hot and muggy once it was over. He was there, you just need to look for the signs. No hand to hold, but I smile and feel him in my heart.’
Brielle said about her big day: ‘Love truly conquers all.’