It was about a week before today’s flight I realized I would be flying on 9/11. For many, that’s a big no-no. That sentiment reminds me of the sailors of old who believed a shipmate who’d been on a doomed voyage brought bad luck. For me, it’s just the opposite. Flying on this day is a little like flipping the bird to terrorists. I refuse to be afraid to fly because of one day when the world went dark and planes everywhere were grounded for the better part of a week. In fact, as we were taxiing for take-off, I captured the perfect photo of American resilience …
I was struck as I got to the scanners in security. My purse was in the x-ray machine (no photo possible as my phone was in my purse) when an announcement came over the airport PA system. “Ladies and Gentlemen, on this day we remember those who valiantly gave their lives for our nation. Please join us for a moment of silence.” Everything stopped! The machines stopped scanning; people stopped rushing to their gates; security and travelers alike paused, silently, for a moment of respect and remembrance. I choked back a tear.
I remember that day vividly. I was a morning news anchor and it turned into a 14-hour day of regular news updates before we all headed home, unsure of what the next day would bring. My daughter was a freshman in college … just outside Washington, DC. My son was an 8th grader and latch-key kid. By the time I reached them, they were frantic for news of their dad who worked at the Pentagon. He was unhurt, but stayed to do what he could to assist in rescue efforts. We didn’t know that he was OK until many hours after the attacks.
Here we are 13 years later. For many, the day has faded into fuzziness. For others, it will forever be etched on their hearts. For me, it evokes emotional pain and deep patriotism. As my plane took off, nearly 13 years and an hour after that fateful second plane struck World Trade Tower II, we flew the “Potomac visual” … a route that gives a spectacular view of Washington DC’s heart, the mall, from the Capitol Dome to the Lincoln Memorial.
I proudly fly the US Flag from a flagpole in my front yard every day. I avoid political rhetoric, but encourage everyone to be as informed as possible and vote their conscience! I like to say when I bleed, I bleed red, white, and blue. There’s something special about watching the nation go by you from 36,000 feet. I’ve flown Seattle to Boston to Los Angeles to Key West. I’ve criss-crossed this country from the air and on its roadways. I can think of nowhere I’d rather be!
There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. I’m glad my travels start and end in the greatest nation on Earth.
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