Letter From Renee Cooper
2000
Antonio Ansara Cooper Jr. was six months old when he was killed in the bombing. His mother, Renee Cooper, added this photo and letter to the Fence five years after the bombing. The year 2000 was a significant year for many. The new millennium presented uncertainties and fears for some, and excitement for others. Likewise, new decades often feel like old chapters closing and new ones beginning.
This letter juxtaposes those feelings with the sense of loss and grief that remains a constant in the lives of those who lost a loved one in the bombing. Significantly, the letter’s tone, while certainly one of grief, reflects hope, and an affirmation of the bond of love between family members. This is a common feature of letters left on the Fence: an acknowledgement of pain, but a determination to love and hope.
