In Honor of Our Heroes
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September 9, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Friday marks the eighth anniversary of September 11, 2001 and it is in many ways as fresh in our minds today as it was eight years ago. We appreciate the efforts of so many around the country who have established memorials and remembrance events to keep the spirit of our flying partners and other heroes alive in our hearts. And, we pledge to ensure their memories are lasting so that our children and future generations of workers will know the meaning of this day as their own.
 We will always remember September 11, 2001. As we have recognized before, the selfless acts of the heroes of the day represent the highest Flight Attendant ideal, which defines our professional humanity by action and deed. In the immediate days following, Flight Attendants came together as never before - understanding, regardless of airline or uniform, that no one knew better who we were, what we did or what we had sacrificed than another member of our profession. Flight Attendant heroes were the first to take back to the sky and deliver millions of stranded passengers home to their loved ones. We have a unique and important role to play in making sure that the world never forgets.
For many, this anniversary will be marked by private reflections and personal tributes. Our website Memorial section honors our heroes along with our American Airlines colleagues. The Memorial includes a forum to contribute memories and thoughts about our flying partner heroes to help ensure the world never forgets their sacrifice. It also contains a list of ceremonies and memorial services throughout the country should you wish to gather with others in their memory.
This year the September 11th Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center will open the doors of its preview site on September 10th. The extraordinary work of the museum staff to gather artifacts and oral histories of those directly connected to the events of that day will culminate in a lasting site where the world may come to learn all about our heroes in the museum or spend quiet time reflecting in the grounds of the memorial site. The Memorial and Museum staff are working with careful diligence to open the grounds on the tenth anniversary, and this preview site will provide us with a promise of what is yet to come. We have more details about this work posted in our website Memorial section.
On this anniversary of September 11th, we take pause with our flying partners, our families, and our friends to reflect and dedicate this day to the memory of our heroes – the women and men who comprised the crews of the United and American flights 11, 77, 93 and 175. Pilots, Customer Service Agents and our flying partners' friends and family were all aboard those flights. Eight years ago we made a solemn promise that we would never forget. We invite those who have joined our ranks since that time to help keep our promise alive. Through our continued efforts, future generations will know our experience and remember it as their own.
The Flight Attendants onboard those flights will always be our heroes, and forever bring an extraordinary meaning to the 11th day of September. Today, and everyday, we honor our heroes:
Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Robert Fangman, Wanda Green, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Michael Tarrou, Ceecee Lyles, Kathryn Laborie, Al Marchand, Alicia Titus, and Deborah Welsh.
Our heroes will live forever; we will never forget.
In Solidarity,
Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council
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