In yesterday's Wall Street Journal (Friday, September 9, 2016), there is an Opinion piece written by Anita McBride who was the assistant to President George W. Bush back on September 11, 2001. Ms. McBride briefly tells readers what it was like for her back on that fateful day 15 years ago, and how they were evacuated from the White House and set up make-shift offices in a building nearby where her husband worked. What struck me most in this piece was something Ms. McBride had to say about today. She currently works at American University and to quote "I am reminded that each new freshman class is further removed from the shock of that day and the anxiety of its aftermath. They may have read about 9/11 in a history book, but as with other significant events in history, it's easy to lose a sense of connection to their impact without access to firsthand accounts."
I would like to know what history books are teaching those that were born after or are too young to remember the events of 9/11. I remember that my history studies were merely learning about people, places, dates and events. A lot of facts were memorized, and if you took an interest in one particular period or event, you could broaden your studies to include the social, economic and scientific impacts coming from that one period or event. What was missing in those studies were first-hand accounts of thoughts and feelings for those who were witness to, either directly or indirectly, these significant events.
What are young people learning in school about the attacks on 9/11? I am not sure, but I hope it is more than facts and figures, or worse yet, dissections of how the United States government and military responded. What I want young people to understand is how overwhelming it can be to be shocked into a realization that the world is never going to be the same. Young people also need to understand the overwhelming helplessness that was felt as we watched events unfold on TV. Young people also need to understand that we witnessed real evil that day, yet we were also witness to an unprecedented coming together of people and nations with a resolve to bring down that evil.
First among the casualties of those attacks were the 265 passengers and crew on the four planes that were hijacked. Immediately after the attacks, the nation's air traffic system was shut down and all flights were grounded for three days. Employees at all of the airlines, but notably United and American, were all in shock. The employees not only had to grieve the loss of their flying partners, but they had figure out how to get the planes back in the air and on schedule as quickly as possible. They also had to face a new fear that there would be more hijackings. That meant increased security, and everyone was under suspicion. They all did it though, even though their world was never going to be the same.
Over the years, employees at United Airlines have told me their stories of that day and the subsequent days after as they worked to get planes in the air again. They had to set aside their own fears about their own futures and just focus on making the skies friendly again. It is something they did well, and continue to do well. This is something that I am grateful for, because as I watched the events unfold on TV, i not only grieved at the loss of life as it unfolded on TV, I grieved for the friends I had made over the years as a loyal customer for United Airlines. There was nothing I could do for them on that day.
United and American Airlines have had their share of rough times since the attacks , but they bounced back and are still here when we want them. Today there are a lot of new hires at both airlines, younger people who will not have the same perspective as their senior flying partners. I want to use this post to say something to the new hires at United Airlines - consider yourself as very fortunate, and respect the honor you have been given to be a part of the Friendly Skies. There is rich heritage here, and you can learn so much from your senior associates and flying partners. Tomorrow, and on every September 11, you may notice a somberness and sense of mourning among the employees and customers that are flying on that day. That somberness you see comes from being witness to the events of 9/11 and losing people that they knew. Respect that and give your very best when you go to work not only tomorrow, but every day. You are the ones that need to carry on and not waste a rich heritage.
Tomorrow I will be taking my 15th, September 11 trip. Every September 11, I fly United Airlines to the east coast and back and will take a moment to thank the United employees and managers I come across on this trip. For you new hires, 15 years from now you may still hear about this crazy old geezer making these trips. Well for this old geezer, this is a way to remember and talk about those things you did not learn about in your history classes. On September 11, 2001, the choice to fly United Airlines was taken away from me, but on September 11, 2002, I made the conscious decision to fly United Airlines, and have done so every September 11 since then. These flights are my way of saying thank you for letting me be a part of the Friendly Skies.
Tomorrow's trip has me leaving LAX for SFO at 6:20 in the morning. I'll connect with a 10:20 AM flight from SFO to EWR, and the head back to LAX on the 8:40 flight that evening (whew, that's a long day). I will have some Starbucks cards and wrist bands to hand out as my way of saying thank you. For any new hires, I hope I get the chance to meet you and let you know how important United's Friendly Skies are to me and your flying partners. For my friends that I will not be able to see tomorrow, I hope the day brings some good memories to help you deal with the bad.
Closing Postscript
My last post talked about how United's Flight Attendants were voting to ratify a joint tentative agreement that would finally bring together the three working divisions into one. No more UA metal vs. CO metal. Congratulations to you all as the joint contract was approved by 53% of the voting members. You all worked very hard to get to this point, and I think your AFA leaders and negotiating committee did accomplish the goal of achieving an industry leading contract. I have supported and stood with you in this effort, and I do not think you would have done so well without the resources of the AFA. As the airline works to integrate your schedules take some time to get to know each other. You are all part of something that can surpass the competition by coming together and learning from each other. Again - Congratulations - you all deserve the very best.
I would like to know what history books are teaching those that were born after or are too young to remember the events of 9/11. I remember that my history studies were merely learning about people, places, dates and events. A lot of facts were memorized, and if you took an interest in one particular period or event, you could broaden your studies to include the social, economic and scientific impacts coming from that one period or event. What was missing in those studies were first-hand accounts of thoughts and feelings for those who were witness to, either directly or indirectly, these significant events.
What are young people learning in school about the attacks on 9/11? I am not sure, but I hope it is more than facts and figures, or worse yet, dissections of how the United States government and military responded. What I want young people to understand is how overwhelming it can be to be shocked into a realization that the world is never going to be the same. Young people also need to understand the overwhelming helplessness that was felt as we watched events unfold on TV. Young people also need to understand that we witnessed real evil that day, yet we were also witness to an unprecedented coming together of people and nations with a resolve to bring down that evil.
First among the casualties of those attacks were the 265 passengers and crew on the four planes that were hijacked. Immediately after the attacks, the nation's air traffic system was shut down and all flights were grounded for three days. Employees at all of the airlines, but notably United and American, were all in shock. The employees not only had to grieve the loss of their flying partners, but they had figure out how to get the planes back in the air and on schedule as quickly as possible. They also had to face a new fear that there would be more hijackings. That meant increased security, and everyone was under suspicion. They all did it though, even though their world was never going to be the same.
Over the years, employees at United Airlines have told me their stories of that day and the subsequent days after as they worked to get planes in the air again. They had to set aside their own fears about their own futures and just focus on making the skies friendly again. It is something they did well, and continue to do well. This is something that I am grateful for, because as I watched the events unfold on TV, i not only grieved at the loss of life as it unfolded on TV, I grieved for the friends I had made over the years as a loyal customer for United Airlines. There was nothing I could do for them on that day.
United and American Airlines have had their share of rough times since the attacks , but they bounced back and are still here when we want them. Today there are a lot of new hires at both airlines, younger people who will not have the same perspective as their senior flying partners. I want to use this post to say something to the new hires at United Airlines - consider yourself as very fortunate, and respect the honor you have been given to be a part of the Friendly Skies. There is rich heritage here, and you can learn so much from your senior associates and flying partners. Tomorrow, and on every September 11, you may notice a somberness and sense of mourning among the employees and customers that are flying on that day. That somberness you see comes from being witness to the events of 9/11 and losing people that they knew. Respect that and give your very best when you go to work not only tomorrow, but every day. You are the ones that need to carry on and not waste a rich heritage.
Tomorrow I will be taking my 15th, September 11 trip. Every September 11, I fly United Airlines to the east coast and back and will take a moment to thank the United employees and managers I come across on this trip. For you new hires, 15 years from now you may still hear about this crazy old geezer making these trips. Well for this old geezer, this is a way to remember and talk about those things you did not learn about in your history classes. On September 11, 2001, the choice to fly United Airlines was taken away from me, but on September 11, 2002, I made the conscious decision to fly United Airlines, and have done so every September 11 since then. These flights are my way of saying thank you for letting me be a part of the Friendly Skies.
Tomorrow's trip has me leaving LAX for SFO at 6:20 in the morning. I'll connect with a 10:20 AM flight from SFO to EWR, and the head back to LAX on the 8:40 flight that evening (whew, that's a long day). I will have some Starbucks cards and wrist bands to hand out as my way of saying thank you. For any new hires, I hope I get the chance to meet you and let you know how important United's Friendly Skies are to me and your flying partners. For my friends that I will not be able to see tomorrow, I hope the day brings some good memories to help you deal with the bad.
Closing Postscript
My last post talked about how United's Flight Attendants were voting to ratify a joint tentative agreement that would finally bring together the three working divisions into one. No more UA metal vs. CO metal. Congratulations to you all as the joint contract was approved by 53% of the voting members. You all worked very hard to get to this point, and I think your AFA leaders and negotiating committee did accomplish the goal of achieving an industry leading contract. I have supported and stood with you in this effort, and I do not think you would have done so well without the resources of the AFA. As the airline works to integrate your schedules take some time to get to know each other. You are all part of something that can surpass the competition by coming together and learning from each other. Again - Congratulations - you all deserve the very best.
Thank you. I tear up as I write this after reading your words to our new hires. I see first hand that neither they nor our newest United flying partners from Continental fully understand what we went through 15 years ago on Sept.11.
ReplyDeleteYes, all airlines and all Americans were affected, especially those who lost family and friends both in the air and on the ground. But as you know, flight attendants from all airlines have a bond and those with my flying partners who lost their lives first that day are so bitter sweet.
I had only been flying a year when we lost our planes that beautiful morning. I still have a hard time discussing that day...and the week after. I was visiting my ex-girlfriend in Annapolis, MD and was flying back to SFO that day. I finally got back home a week later.
For me to see someone like you doing what you do for us, it warms my heart and I wanted to make sure I said thank you. Our paths won't be crossing, as I'll be heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil from my base in Houston. But I know your gifts and words and smile will mean the world to us.
Thank you, again, for all you do, for your support and your business.
Thank you for continuing to remember them, James, and for supporting us for all these years. You are a treasured friend of the flight attendants at United and we love you!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful read and I'll be sure to pass it along to any new hires I cross paths with. They need to know that we have great, loyal customers who make sacrifices on our behalf as well. Thank you again Mr. Anderson!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMr Anderson,
ReplyDeleteThank you from my bone marrow for your amazing kindness and support! I've been flying with United since 1998 and have actually been on TWO of the 9/11 flights that you were a passenger on. Both flights were unforgettable, in a good way, thanks to you!
This year, I was a passenger on today's UA1919. A crew member woke me from my nap and asked if I was crew, I said yes. I was nervous at first, thinking there was a n emergency situation unfolding, especially knowing what day it was...
I have never been so relieved to be wrong as she handed me a custom made bracelet and your note with the Starbucks gift card inside. I had tears rolling down my face as I told her who you were and how your kindness has touched so many of us over the years.
Thank you, Mr. Anderson! You are living proof that there is always something good that can be gleaned from even the worst situations. You are part of our family and no words can express our gratefulness for such a beautiful person and example of humanity at its best❤️✈️❤️
Fly safe and I hope to be able to thank you in person one day soon.
Warmest,
Gino