January 14, 2011 8:31 AM
- Text
Christina Green's Short Life Had a Big Impact
The nine-year-old girl who was born on Sept. 11, 2001 was carried to her funeral beneath a flag that survived the attack that day on the World Trade Center -- a symbol of both tragedy and resilience, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone.
The service for Christina Green was private, but in death she's become a public figure.
"In Christina we see all of our children," said President Barack Obama as he spoke at a memorial service for the Ariz. shooting victims on Jan. 12.
Complete Coverage: Tragedy in Tucson
At last night's tribute to the victims in Tucson, the President acknowledged the special impact of Christina's death - and life.
"I want to live up to her expectations," said the President. "I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it."
While Christina has touched the nation, for the hundreds lining the route to her funeral, she is Tucson's child.
"I pray every night that she's in a happy place and that she's with God now," said Isabel Torres, Christina's classmate.
Mourning in Tucson
Hardest hit by the nine-year-old's death are those most like her: the children of Tucson. Classmate Alexis Strauss says Christina's friends have so many questions.
"We were just wondering what the last words to her brother were," said Strauss.
Among the tributes at Christina's school is a note from the Little League team where she was the only girl.
Dave Britton brought six of his seven boys. Isaac was in the third grade with Christina.
"She's in fact the same age as me," said Isaac. "It's just sad."
Along with the sadness there is also a new fear.
"It could have been me or any of my brothers," said one of the boys.
Since the shooting Kelley Fourcier has been holding her 7-year-old twins, Ashley and Brianna, closer than ever.
"It's sad that you just go to a grocery store and your kids could be killed," said Fourcier. "It's horrible."
At Christina Green's funeral we learned of yet another way she touched lives: as an organ donor.
Copyright 2011 CBS. All rights reserved. The service for Christina Green was private, but in death she's become a public figure.
"In Christina we see all of our children," said President Barack Obama as he spoke at a memorial service for the Ariz. shooting victims on Jan. 12.
Complete Coverage: Tragedy in Tucson
At last night's tribute to the victims in Tucson, the President acknowledged the special impact of Christina's death - and life.
"I want to live up to her expectations," said the President. "I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it."
While Christina has touched the nation, for the hundreds lining the route to her funeral, she is Tucson's child.
"I pray every night that she's in a happy place and that she's with God now," said Isabel Torres, Christina's classmate.
Mourning in Tucson
Hardest hit by the nine-year-old's death are those most like her: the children of Tucson. Classmate Alexis Strauss says Christina's friends have so many questions.
"We were just wondering what the last words to her brother were," said Strauss.
Among the tributes at Christina's school is a note from the Little League team where she was the only girl.
Dave Britton brought six of his seven boys. Isaac was in the third grade with Christina.
"She's in fact the same age as me," said Isaac. "It's just sad."
Along with the sadness there is also a new fear.
"It could have been me or any of my brothers," said one of the boys.
Since the shooting Kelley Fourcier has been holding her 7-year-old twins, Ashley and Brianna, closer than ever.
"It's sad that you just go to a grocery store and your kids could be killed," said Fourcier. "It's horrible."
At Christina Green's funeral we learned of yet another way she touched lives: as an organ donor.
9 Comments +
Popular Now in CBS Evening News
- U.S. Catholic nuns go about work after rebuke
- "Super-agers": What it takes to live beyond 100
- 5/30: Stock market plummets, handling Syrian crisis
- Vatican reprimands "radical" U.S. nuns
- 5/29: World responds to Syria massacre, Romney to clinch GOP nomination
- 6-year-old tries out for National Spelling Bee
- 9/11 first responders: Just doing our jobs
- Super-agers may hold the key to longer life
- Vatican scandal could further grow
- Catholic nuns in America focus on God's work
- Toxic Japanese debris piles up on Alaska's shore
- European debt crisis sends Dow plummeting
- Another mass execution uncovered in Syria
- An early look at the general election
- GOP critical of White House's Syria policy
- Obama awards Medal of Freedom to Bob Dylan, John Glenn
