9/11 Reminds Carlsbad Man to Treasure Each Day

Early in September 2001, Carlsbad resident Mike Marshall took his baby girl to the East Coast to visit family members. At the very end of the trip, the day before their flight back to Southern California, his daughter got sick. 

Not wanting her to fly with an ear infection, Marshall made plans to take another flight home the following day—Sept. 11. American Airlines Flight 11 was about half booked so Marshall, his daughter and mother planned on flying standby on the flight from Boston to Los Angeles.

Then, the morning of Sept. 10, baby Marissa woke up with her fever gone and a big smile on her face. The Marshalls hurried to the airport and caught their original flight.

The next day, Flight 11—the flight they would have taken—crashed into the north tower, killing everyone aboard.

Sept. 11 reminds Marshall that every day is a gift. The date is also Marshall’s wedding anniversary. He and his wife married a couple of years before the terrorist attacks. Sadly, she learned she had multiple sclerosis and passed away at a young age, leaving Marshall to raise Marissa as a single father.

“I think I’m extra appreciative of every extra day,” said Marshall.