Gone and Forgotten! AMR Executives Snub 9/11 Aircrew Memorial Dedication
APA Communications Committee:
On the Fourth of July, AMR executives again publicly embarrassed everyone associated with American Airlines by their heartless decision to not attend the dedication of the 9/11 flight crew memorial in DFW. After that dreadful morning that shook our nation, rocked our industry and took from us 17 members of our own AA family, we took an oath to never forget.
Demonstrating the disdain and lack of value they place on pilots and flight attendants, not a single AMR senior executive or the Vice President of Flight chose to attend or recognize in any way the 33 aircrew members who were murdered in the line of duty.
To add further injury to how little regard AMR managers have for employees (even those killed while working), SWA founder and CEO "Emeritus" Herb Kelleher attended and even publicly wept during the reading of the crewmember names. He graciously rebuffed the media and deferred interview requests, wanting to keep the attention on the dedication20of this long overdue memorial finally recognizing this select group--the very first victims lost in the line of duty.
AMR's absence did not go unnoticed. Plane Business Banter editor Holly Hegeman wrote a column about the memorial dedication entitled "Where's Gerard?" She states that "…considering the occasion, and considering what an impact these events had on the airline and its employees, where was American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey?" She continued with "… this dedication was literally, just down the road from Gerard's house… His absence is inexcusable."
In spite of the obvious snub by AMR, the ceremony was awe inspiring and moving. The event began with a missing man flyover formation of T-28 Trojans led by AA Captain Chip Lamb. There were several moving speeches and a reading of the two AA and two United flight numbers and the names of all their respective crewmembers. More than one thousand people attended--family members of aircrew victims, hundreds of current and former ai rline employees--and as the drum beat tolled off the names of those lost, the tears flowed. 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation Founder and AA Flight Attendant Valerie Thompson perfectly summed up the feelings of those in attendance when she referred to the memorial and the crew members lost as "…first taken, last remembered, now honored."
************
Were they invited? Did they decline an invitation? Where was UA?
Surely someone here has the real scoop?
APA Communications Committee:
On the Fourth of July, AMR executives again publicly embarrassed everyone associated with American Airlines by their heartless decision to not attend the dedication of the 9/11 flight crew memorial in DFW. After that dreadful morning that shook our nation, rocked our industry and took from us 17 members of our own AA family, we took an oath to never forget.
Demonstrating the disdain and lack of value they place on pilots and flight attendants, not a single AMR senior executive or the Vice President of Flight chose to attend or recognize in any way the 33 aircrew members who were murdered in the line of duty.
To add further injury to how little regard AMR managers have for employees (even those killed while working), SWA founder and CEO "Emeritus" Herb Kelleher attended and even publicly wept during the reading of the crewmember names. He graciously rebuffed the media and deferred interview requests, wanting to keep the attention on the dedication20of this long overdue memorial finally recognizing this select group--the very first victims lost in the line of duty.
AMR's absence did not go unnoticed. Plane Business Banter editor Holly Hegeman wrote a column about the memorial dedication entitled "Where's Gerard?" She states that "…considering the occasion, and considering what an impact these events had on the airline and its employees, where was American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey?" She continued with "… this dedication was literally, just down the road from Gerard's house… His absence is inexcusable."
In spite of the obvious snub by AMR, the ceremony was awe inspiring and moving. The event began with a missing man flyover formation of T-28 Trojans led by AA Captain Chip Lamb. There were several moving speeches and a reading of the two AA and two United flight numbers and the names of all their respective crewmembers. More than one thousand people attended--family members of aircrew victims, hundreds of current and former ai rline employees--and as the drum beat tolled off the names of those lost, the tears flowed. 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation Founder and AA Flight Attendant Valerie Thompson perfectly summed up the feelings of those in attendance when she referred to the memorial and the crew members lost as "…first taken, last remembered, now honored."
************
Were they invited? Did they decline an invitation? Where was UA?
Surely someone here has the real scoop?
