Twenty-five years ago this September, I was shocked like all Americans, not yet comprehending the impact that day would have on all our lives. I thought back to my time in the Navy and how our brave military personnel must have felt in the days after 9/11.
Everyone remembers where they were when they saw the event unfold. My 9/11 story happened in an unusual place, thousands of miles away from the tragedy that swept our nation. Some of you may know this, but for 35 years I was a pilot for Delta Airlines.
I spent thousands of hours in the cockpit flying all over the world, and on September 9th, 2001, I was at the helm flying from Los Angeles to Honolulu. On the morning of September 11th, I woke to a call from the captain telling me to turn on the TV. It was unusual for him to call, especially just a few hours before I was supposed to fly back to Los Angeles.
For the next five days, our hotel became a hub for airline crews and pilots from all over the world. We received daily briefings and updates, not knowing when we’d be able to get home.
Twenty-five years later, September 11th is still a day we must never forget. In the face of a horrific tragedy, there were countless heroes and people who gave their lives to protect others. We must never take our freedom for granted. We must never forget the firefighters and police officers who bravely stormed into the Twin Towers. And we must never forget the passengers on United Flight 93, whose courage is still unimaginable.
As we mark this solemn anniversary together as a community, I hope you’ll join me in taking a moment to remember, and to thank those who serve and protect us every day.
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
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