Sep 11 2008
9/11 and Flight 93 Heroics
How many heroic acts have you witnessed in your life time? For most people, 9/11 comes to mind and all the brave fireman and law enforcement that lived and died through one of the most memorable tragedies of our time. And then we remember the people who gave of their lives, people just like me and you, to save others. The people on flight 93 will always make us wonder if we would have been as brave as they were in a situation such as theirs.
The U.S. domestic flight left Newark International Airport on a Tuesday morning, headed for San Francisco. Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, 4 hijackers overtook the pilots in the cockpit. The plane was then diverted toward Washington D.C. Several individuals made calls, using their cell phones and air phones, and learned about the attacks that had already taken place on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. A total of 37 phone calls were made from that plane on September 11, 2001, but only 12 of them got through.
All of the people on flight 93 made one last act that was so unselfish, so heroic that most of us can’t even imagine being in such a situation and making such a decision. Some may argue that they had nothing to lose after they’d realized they were on a suicide mission. But, non of us knows how things in life can change from moment to moment. They could have done nothing, they could have remained paralyzed, but they didn’t and that is an act that warrants more than simple gratitude.
Tom Burnett, on that day from flight 93, got through to his wife several times beginning at 9:30 am. She explained the situation to him regarding the attacks on the Towers. He relayed to her what he’d heard from the hijackers, that they were planning to crash the plane. Then, his sudden realization, “Oh my God, it’s a suicide mission.” His last words to his wife were, “Don’t worry, we are going to do something.”
Sandra Bradshaw, a flight attendant on flight 93, called maintenance crew reporting the hijacking and stabbing of another crewmember at 9:35 am. She then called her husband telling him about the boiling water she was preparing to attack the hijackers with. This call ended at 9:55 am when she noted to him that the passengers were rushing the first class area. Her last words were a hasty goodbye.
Lauren Grandcolas, at 9:39, left a hasty message on her home message machine. Her last words were, “Okay, I just want to tell you, there’s a little problem with the plane. I’m fine, I’m totally fine. I just want to tell you how much I love you.”
Mark Bingham, at 9:37, spoke to his mother, informing her of the hijackers and their threat of a bomb on board the plane.
Jeremy Glick, at 9:37, told his wife about the hijacking by dark skinned Iranian looking men with red bandanas and threatening the plane occupants with knives. This is where we learned the story of flight 93. Mr. Glick left his phone connected till the end all the while relaying the events. The passengers and crew took a vote to attack the hijackers. You know in your heart that these brave people were making peace with their maker.
At 9:43 am Todd Beamer’s attempt to call his wife was redirected to Lisa D. Jefferson, a GTE phone operator. He reported the hijacking with the information of dead or dying pilots. The last words she heard from Todd were, “Let’s roll.”
The last call from flight 93 on that day was from Edward Felt at 9:54 when he called 911 and reported the hijacking. The actual attack on the hijackers took place at 9:57 according to the plane’s voice recorder later relayed screaming, breaking glass and voices of the attack. The plane crashed into a coal strip mine just 20 minutes from Washington D.C.
All the people on flight 93 were nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal. Surprising to all of us, is the fact that these medal have not been granted. Shocking. What in the world is wrong with us and our governmental officials?
