Mom wrote letter to son’s kindergarten teacher before dying in 9/11 attacks—he was speechless reading it 24 years later
Some gifts and letters have bittersweet feelings attached to them. A mom, CeeCee Ross Lyles, wrote a letter to her son's kindergarten teacher appreciating her son's reading work. Unfortunately, the letter the mom wrote back in 2001 turned out to be the last one she wrote before her death during the 9/11 attacks. The teacher, Tammy Thurman, decided to send that special letter to the son, Jevon Castrillo, who was speechless after reading it, per WPTV News.
"It is a piece of history right here," Castrillo remarked as he opened his late mom's old letter. The man began reading the letter out loud with a smile on his face. "Dear Ms. Thurman, Jevon read a book last night that he brought home from the library. He read it from cover to cover." He continued, "I told him I would write you a note and tell you what an outstanding job he did. We are very proud of him and will continue to work with him at home. Again, thank you for your dedication and courage for the job that you do. Cee Cee Lyles." The man was touched by the letter and was on the verge of tears as he finished reading. "Very touching. Because it seems very sweet. It seems like something she would definitely say."
Thurman felt that Castrillo's reading of the letter was a "full circle" moment. The kindergarten teacher revealed that she kept the letter with her as she changed four different schools and was glad to share it with Castrillo. "As a mom, I know you need to see those words from your mom," the woman told the son. "She was a wonderful woman and you were a wonderful student." The teacher also sent a class photo along with the letter and the man was glad for the look into his past that gave him a glimpse of his mother. Castrillo now had a 3-month-old son and was glad to know that he could make his mom proud before her death.
The man's mom, Lyles, worked as a police officer and detective for six years before she completed her flight attendant certification in January 2001, per the National Park Service. The 33-year-old had dreamed of the job because of all the travel opportunities it offered her as a busy mom of four. The woman was working on Flight 93 on the day of the 9/11 attacks. It was the fourth and final flight that was hijacked on that day. The first two crashed into the twin towers, the third one struck the Pentagon, per the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The plane destined for San Francisco was flying towards Washington, DC, when the passengers and crew decided to fight back, ultimately causing it to crash in a field in Pennsylvania.
The woman sent a voice message to her husband after she realized what was happening." They’ve hijacked the plane, I’m trying to be calm. We’re turned around and I’ve heard that there’s planes that’s been flown into the World Trade Center. I hope to be able to see your face again baby. I love you (sic)." The second time she called, Lyles was able to talk to her husband and told him that they were trying to fight the hijackers and gain control of the plane back. She told him to give her love to their children. "We’re getting ready to do it now. It’s happening!" Lyles pointed out before she hung up. The plane crashed near an empty field in Shanksville and 40 passengers and crew members on the flight were killed.