Faith, Grace & Miracles
S
eptember 11, 2001 is a date that sends chills to your
very core. It was a day that loved ones were ripped
from us and very many were injured. Many of you may
not know this but, Arizona’s very own Gary Killoughey Bird
was in the Trade Center that day. He was the Grace and
Miracles’ only one from Arizona that was in that center.
It was his last day at orientation for his new job at Marsh
USA. The last time his wife heard his voice he said, “I’ll be
home for dinner Tuesday night. I love you”. Who was Gary
you might ask? Well, for all that knew him he was a selfless
giver, a gentleman, a cowboy, a sports enthusiast, an animal
lover and a real champion with the kids. Most importantly,
he was a loving husband and a devoted father. He was the
type of father that sang his kids to sleep when they were
babies, taught them to ride a horse and ski, but most of all
he never let them forget how valuable they are.
Gary lived in Tempe, Arizona where he enjoyed riding
his horse in seeing the great horizon. While at the Trade
Center he told his wife, “I’m really claustrophobic here,
I can’t wait to see the horizon.” He could not wait to be
able to be back with his family or ride his horses and look
at the horizon once again. She said that it was a case of
don’t fence me in. You see, Gary was a simple man that
just loved people. He would take the bus just because he
would rather be able to talk and listen to people then just
be in a boring car alone. He would talk to them about
current events, his trips if the subject came up, or even
just listened to what they had to say. Even though he
was doing this because he enjoyed it, he will never know
exactly how much he touched the lives of those around
him. One woman wrote from the encounters with him
that “she has a tremendous amount of respect for him.”
She tells us that “she knows just from seeing him and
talking with him that he is the type of person that will put
anyone before himself.” She also said that “she knew when
the plane crashed into the building he would have done
anything to help everyone else before himself.” Another
woman wrote that “he was a very intelligent man who
thought things through and had real common sense.” She
even told us about the time that the bus was full and when
a woman got on the bus he gladly gave his seat for her.
When the story of Gary crossed my path I knew that I had
to share this. He and I share the same interest in people. We
want to help them, talk to them, and just learn everything
that we possibly can. Curious, I look through his wife’s book
Nothing Will Separate Us and I knew I had to look more
into it. Another thing that I’m glad to mention is, one of
Gary’s saddles is being used right here in our small town of
Buckeye! Gary’s wife knew that he would have wanted it to
go to someone that would do something special with it. She
met David Faber years ago and knew that he would be the
person to do just that. David was honored to receive the gift
that Gary cherished is so much. He runs “Spirit Runs Free”
Horse Therapy. This is where participants improve physical,
mental, social and emotional well-being. While learning to
care for, respect and work with horses. There is no better
place for that lovely cowboy’s saddle to go. However, there
is still one that is in New York at the museum. For more
information about “Spirit Runs Free” Horse Therapy or to
come and see the saddle, contact David or Tina Faber at
(623)910-6269.
Story originally published in Buckeye Valley News,
December 2014.
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