It is hard to miss the message that tomorrow, Friday, September 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. It is a hard reminder of a traumatic day that shook the world to its core. 2,977 lives were lost on that day, and there have been many other casualties in the aftermath. Whether it was cancer and other diseases attributed to being in an around the debris in lower Manhattan, soldiers lost in the wars that came shortly afterward, or suicide brought on by grief and emotional distress, we tell ourselves to "Never Forget" for fear of it all happening again. But are we honoring the day and those that were lost as much as we should?
A lot of fuss is being made about this being the 25th anniversary, which is significant, but next year, on the 26th anniversary, will there be as much attention as there is now? I fear that memories fade, after all, who celebrates a 26th anniversary in the same manner they celebrate a 25th anniversary? If memory serves, Presidents Bush (George W.), and Obama always seemed to manage to make trips to all 3 crash sites (New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and the crash site for United Flight 93 which came down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania) on each anniversary, but I was bothered by Presidents Biden and Trump failing to do so. Was this a sign that the country is starting to forget?
What about the young people who were either born after 2001, or are too young to remember, what is their take on the day? My guess is that anyone under the age of 30 now cannot understand why those of us that do remember make such a big deal about it all. Do they say that "25 years was a long time ago, it's time to look ahead?" I am curious about this part of the story, and I would welcome feedback from any of you youngsters that happen to read this. To "Never Forget" does not mean we have to let the past stay in the past in order to look ahead. The future does not benefit from lessons that are forgotten.
I am looking forward to my "annual" 9/11 trip tomorrow, going to Newark and back on the same day, traveling with United Airlines. The "annual" is in quotes because personal circumstances interfered with my being able to make the trip in 2024 and 2025. For new readers of this blog, back on September 11, 2002, there was a lot of attention being paid to the first anniversary, and many wondered if people were going to be afraid to travel. That wasn't going to be me. I booked a first-class trip on United first to Chicago, on to Washington D.C., and back home to Los Angeles. It was a special day, and for the front-line employees at United that were working, they were grateful to see the customers, and that planes were full. I handed out as many Starbucks gift cards as I could to crew members and agents, and each card had a message thanking them for "keeping the skies friendly." Since then, and except for the last two years, I have never missed making a trip every year on September 11.
Why do I make this trip every year? There are a lot of ceremonies and remembrances that I could be a part of to express my support. Back in 2001 I was a frequent flyer on United and had gotten to know a lot of the front-line employees, especially here in Los Angeles. In addition, since I was a kid, I have always been a commercial aviation "groupie," following all the comings and goings at U.S. air carriers. I knew their routes, the type of planes they flew, and their histories. I took any chance I could to travel by air. On September 11, 2001, when I learned that it was planes from the two largest U.S. airlines that were used in the attacks, it was hard to ponder that I might have known someone who perished. United Flight 175 was on its way from Boston to Los Angeles when the hijackers took over, did I know one of the crew members? I grieved for those on the front-line at United and American, because their jobs were never going to be the same, and I worried how they were going to survive this. Making this trip every year is just a different way of honoring those that are on the front lines who have kept our skies safe for the last 25 years.
Tomorrow I will be up early and head to the airport to catch the first leg of the trip. As I travel, I will hand out about 300 Starbucks gift cards, wishing I could afford more. Each card will have this message inside:
September 11, 2026
This is just to let you know that there are customers that see and appreciate your hard work and dedication that keeps United flying. Thank you for keeping the skies friendly for the last 25 years.
With your commitment to United and the customers, you honor your peers that were lost on that awful day 25 years ago. They took pride in being a part of the Friendly Skies, and so should you. Do not accept “good enough,” be safe, and remember that YOU are United Airlines - Thank You! -"
It was flight attendants and pilots that were the first responders, and the first to perish, on that day 25 years ago. It is important that we "never forget" that fact. Tomorrow is a tough day for the survivors on the front lines at United and American. When you travel, thank those on the front lines at your airline of choice. Their job is tough, and they come to work ready to make our experience comfortable and hassle free. Be safe out there, and do not accept "good enough" in your own life. Strive for better, the world changed 25 years ago, and it is important we get back to the days where we can again feel secure and good customer service was not a bad thing.
To Scott Kirby - President and Chairman of the Board, United Airlines: I cannot close this year's post without reiterating my plea to you to properly honor those United employees who lost their lives in the attacks on September 11, 2001. I am not talking about just one day a year, where employees are left to come up with their own makeshift memorials at stations around the world. You need to step up and get real about it. One way to do so is that for every one of those employees that were lost on 9/11, for every new plane that rolls off the assembly line, have one of their names painted on it by door number one, and along-side that name should be the United Airlines tulip. These are good people who lost their lives trying to protect United Airlines passengers, and on their uniforms, they proudly wore the United Airlines tulip. Their names may already be on the memorial in New York, but they deserve to be a part of the "Friendly Skies" every day. They deserve that kind of legacy. It would mean so much to your employees, current and retired, as well as your loyal customers.
- Thank You all for keeping the Skies Friendly -
James Anderson, Mileage Plus HVC21479.
