In RSM, Sept. 11 is Reminder of a Special Loss

By Martin Henderson

Lisa Frost was the only direct casualty from Orange County in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2011. 

On the 12th anniversary of Frost's death at the hands of al-Qaeda, her memorial in Rancho Santa Margarita is worth taking in for a few minutes, especially if you've never been. 

Frost, an RSM native, was 22 and on her way home from Boston University at the time of the attacks. She perished aboard United Airlines Flight 175, the second passenger jet to hit the World Trade Center. 

The memorial was dedicated on Dec. 21, 2001—her birthday—and is located at the lakeshore of Lago Santa Margarita adjacent to the Beach Club, which is located at 21472 Avenida de los Fundadores. 

The memorial includes a Trabuco Oak enveloped by Pentagon-shaped wrought iron that includes two spirals on the corners closest to the memorial. The spirals represent the World Trade Center buildings, the fencing represents the Pentagon, which was also attacked during the 9/11 attacks, and the Trabuco Oak represents rural Pennsylvania in which United Flight 93 crashed after passengers overtook hijackers.

At 2:15 p.m., hundreds of motorcyclists are expected to participate in an annual ride from Cook's Corner in Trabuco Canyon to Long Beach to commemorate 9/11.

Rancho Santa Margarita's annual Patriot Day celebration, which has in the past included Lisa's father, Tom Frost, as speaker, takes place Sunday, 2-8 p.m.

This year's celebration will have a static display of military vehicles and weaponry and attendance by members of the city's adopted 2/5 Marines from Camp Pendleton, as well as a ceremony and, for the first time, a concert. 

Patriot Day will also include food trucks beginning at 4 p.m., a CrossFit challenge at 3:30 p.m. See the city website for additional details.