Today, I want to share with you something taking place amongst the thousands of flight crews around the world.
As is probably true with other occupations, the bond that exists between aviators is somewhat unique. Even though many have never met, it is apparent that we respect each other and are always eager to swap stories of our duties aloft whenever we have a chance encounter with each other.
We also respect the sacrifices made and are dedicated to memorializing exceptional personal efforts and laying it on the line for others.
Because of this deep respect for our God-given privilege to actually be a crew of an airliner and to understand somewhat what the 9/11 crew went through before they so heroically perished, a worldwide movement is beginning which will honor the flight crews who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Much credit is deserving and earned by the brave souls who were on the scene for rescue and to fight the fires caused by this devastating act. And we can never forget those who were innocent victims of the attacks and who lost their lives because they happened to be present in these madmen's target. We must also include the passengers on each of these not-to-be-forgotten airliners. We honor them also.
However, among the aviators of the world, thoughts are ever present of those who were in the cockpit and cabin of those doomed airplanes on this day of infamy and who were the first to lose their lives when war was declared on America with this despicable and cowardly act.
Because of the deep respect we have for each other in our profession, a group of professional pilots have begun a 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation to remember these brave women and men. It is only fitting that this be done. It is the intent of this foundation to eventually erect an appropriate memorial in the cities hit by the 9/11 flights.
The flight crews and passengers of American Airlines flight numbers 11 and 77 along with United Airlines 175 and 93 are the flights to be honored.
Naturally, this is one huge undertaking, but those who are working to make this all happen are resolved to make it come true. They feel it is the least they can do to honor their fallen comrades.
The sacrifice and memories of these brave Americans who chose a career aloft and lost their lives on that fateful day must never be forgotten.
A website - www.911flightcrewmemorial.org - has been created to honor each of them, and it is well worth visiting. There is a biography of every crew member. It is a very solemn site to review, for sure.
In addition to the information about all of the crews, each passenger's name and biography is available.
On this website, visitors can sign an acknowledgement and also offer words of condolences to the survivors and families of our fallen heroes.
So, visit this site. You can be assured you will be glad you did.
