John was a pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He flew the largest aircraft in our military, bringing material to the troops in Vietnam. He also often had to fly back the caskets with the heroes who lost their lives in the war effort. After the war ended, John left the service with an honorable discharge. As a civilian, he became a pilot for American Airlines.

John was at work one day, doing his job, when the unthinkable happened. On this beautiful morning, he taxied his plane down the runway and lifted off from Boston Logan International. The flight was to take him, his crew of 10 airline personnel, 76 passengers, and (unbeknownst to anyone else) 5 terrorists to Los Angeles.

No one will ever know just how the terrorists were able to break into the cockpit of this Boeing 767. But the plane suddenly changed course and headed directly for New York City. It’s unknown exactly how John died, but he did manage to engage the aircraft’s radio system before, allowing air traffic control to listen in on the terrorists’ conversations in the aircraft’s cabin. His flight was the first plane in the terrorist attack, crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Back in Boston, before the horror of that day, John was happily married to Peg, and together they had three teenage daughters, all in private schools. John’s brother Jim lived nearby, and he watched CNN as the attack on the Trade Centers unfolded. Panicked, he quickly phoned Peg, asking if John was flying today. Peg knew instantly; if a Boeing 767 left Boston for LAX, it would be her husband’s plane.

Peg went to her computer and tried to pull up the information on Flight 11. All the details were blacked out, but later flights were still available to see. She called a friend in the flight department at American Airlines. “It was his flight, Peggy,” her friend said. A bright and crisp fall day turned out to be the darkest day of her life…

Finish reading the story here.