AMERICAN Eric LaBorie got married in Bermuda five-and-a-half years ago and just two years later lost his wife in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

One day he would like to place a bench in Astwood Park, where the wedding took place, in memory of his late wife.

Mr. LaBorie, 37, told the yesterday from his home in Providence, Rhode Island, that the bench was just an idea at present and something he would only pursue further when he felt ready.

His wife Kathryn was a flight attendant on one of the jets that suicide hijackers flew into New York's World Trade Centre in 2001.

"We got married at Astwood Cove on October 21, 1999," Mr. LaBorie said. "It's such a beautiful place and I went back there a couple of years ago.

"I would like to do something to honour Kathryn's memory and I think a bench in the park would be that thing. I haven't pursued the idea further yet. At this point, doing something in memory of Kathryn would rehash all those memories and it would hurt.

"I'm still trying to get on with my life. I don't want to force it. When I do it, I want to do it with a clear head. I have pretty much come to terms with it, but it's still a day-to-day thing."

Mr. LaBorie said he had "wonderful memories" of his wedding here, a ceremony that took place after the couple arrived on a cruise aboard the .

"We kind of eloped to Bermuda," he said. "We told everyone we were getting married, we just didn't invite them! That's the way we wanted it.

"I always felt that if I was going to do something in Kathryn's memory, it would be in Bermuda. There was really nowhere central to us.

"Her family is from Denver and mine is in Georgia and Philadelphia and we were living together in Providence after we moved down from Boston and bought a house. But we hadn't really put down roots anywhere."

Asked whether he wanted to seek help from people in Bermuda to make the bench become reality, he said he would ? in time.

"I wouldn't want to waste anybody's efforts right now," Mr. LaBorie said. "This is something I would like to do at some point in the future, but definitely not for a year or two.

"The people of Bermuda are wonderful, friendly and down to earth and I would like to reach out for help from them at some point in the future."