A woman's 13-year journey to find the owner of a wedding photo, discovered on Ground Zero shortly after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, had a picture-perfect ending after Internet users made the photo go viral.
Massachusetts-based university professor Elizabeth Stringer Keefe had been trying to return the photo to its owner ever since she received it from a friend. Each year, around the anniversary of the attacks, she posted it on social media, hoping one day the owner would find it, according to Boston Magazine.
After many failed attempts, the photo went viral this year with over 74,000 retweets on Twitter and more than 1,000 comments on its Reddit thread.
Keefe's efforts were finally noticed by Fred Mahe, who is standing at the far left of the photo.
Mahe was understandably very excited to be reunited with the photo he once kept on his desk in the World Trade Centre. Thankfully, he wasn't at work when the attacks began, he told the magazine.
The happy ending got even sweeter once the two spoke and Keefe realized no one in the photo had been hurt during the tragedy.
Mahe, who now lives in Colorado with his wife, told Boston Magazine he is inspired by Keefe's persistence, saying she reminds him of Sept. 12, 2001 — when he saw "the best of humanity" during relief efforts.
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Massachusetts-based university professor Elizabeth Stringer Keefe had been trying to return the photo to its owner ever since she received it from a friend. Each year, around the anniversary of the attacks, she posted it on social media, hoping one day the owner would find it, according to Boston Magazine.
After many failed attempts, the photo went viral this year with over 74,000 retweets on Twitter and more than 1,000 comments on its Reddit thread.
Every year on #911 I post this photo hoping 2 return 2 owner. Found at #groundzero #WTC in 2001. Pls RT pic.twitter.com/mZ9LdQqE7x
— E. Stringer Keefe (@ProfKeefe) September 12, 2014Keefe's efforts were finally noticed by Fred Mahe, who is standing at the far left of the photo.
Mahe was understandably very excited to be reunited with the photo he once kept on his desk in the World Trade Centre. Thankfully, he wasn't at work when the attacks began, he told the magazine.
@ProfKeefe I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE! I was at the wedding.
— Fred Mahe (@FredWMahe) September 12, 2014The happy ending got even sweeter once the two spoke and Keefe realized no one in the photo had been hurt during the tragedy.
Attention wonderful world: ALL SIX PEOPLE ARE ALIVE AND WELL AND I HAVE JUST SPOKEN TO ONE OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!! #Happyending #911photo
— E. Stringer Keefe (@ProfKeefe) September 12, 2014Mahe, who now lives in Colorado with his wife, told Boston Magazine he is inspired by Keefe's persistence, saying she reminds him of Sept. 12, 2001 — when he saw "the best of humanity" during relief efforts.
Thanks @blakeshelton 4 retweeting the 9/11 people pic. We r all alive. The REAL STORY is @ProfKeefe, she is 100% 9/12 @MlynnrabbMonica #9/12
— Fred Mahe (@FredWMahe) September 13, 2014ALSO ON HUFFPOST: