By John J. Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO
September 11, 2019
2001-2019 = 18 years of memories, lessons learned and values appreciated
I have re-posted this blog message several times because it should remain in our minds and hearts that we all need to pay attention to our role, values and place in history.
9-11 marked the first time the USA had been successfully attacked on its own soil in an undeclared war by terrorists and it changed the country forever in many ways. Innocent civilians of all religions, professions, ages and activities were affected in ways not imagined before.
I was with a major hotel company on that day and my team and I were delivering a workshop out of state. The 100% closing of all airports nationwide, of some roads, and of many government and business centers was an eerie sensation for the week that followed.
In the years since that day, on those times when I am interacting with groups and others on September 11th, I make sure we take that moment of silence to remember and reflect.
I encourage you to watch the following You Tube and then read the short recap of real people’s lives that follow.
When the World Stopped Turning: A 9/11 tribute
Remember and Reflect
While this blog first was published several years ago, the lessons we learned from each other and about inner strengths are worth another look.
American Lives: The Stories Of The Men And Women Lost On September 11
I have had this book for several years now – I found it at a used book sale. I almost passed it by, but was genuinely moved by the collection of personal stories complied by the staff of Newsday and the Tribune Company. If you choose to pass on the book, I understand – it is not easy to keep returning to such a memory, but I strongly recommend you read the brief collection of thoughts below.
This is a mini-biography of some of the women and men who lost their lives on that day. Some of what really moved me were the titles in the stories. You will understand without even reading the full story:
- Robert, there’s another plane coming
- Dad, I gotta go. There’s smoke in here now
- Take care of my kids
- She still lives in his dreams
- She opened up his world
- A recovered ring completes a circle of life
- He made every day a party
- That day, she learned she was pregnant
- After 20 years, they still held hands
- A hero by any definition
- He ignored his own order to flee
- Firefighting was all he talked about
- He dreamed of a school for autistic kids
- She beat Hodgkin’s and eased others pains
- Her family’s first college graduate
- Death in a place of prayer
- They knew what was important
- She kept going back in
- A rescuer who wouldn’t be stopped
- A coach who brought out kid’s potential
- Her husband watched her disappear
- She tried to block the cockpit
- The man who said “let’s roll”
- He stayed to check on an elderly colleague
- A cool army vet who helped others evacuate
- He saved his wife, but not himself
- A son is born as a father is mourned
- and probably 200 more headings and stories
The book is only 200 pages in a slightly oversize format. The five sections are to the point:
Little Brother, You’re MVP in our hearts, and as sub-sections includes
1. last phone calls
2. love stories
3. FDNY and
4. lost promises
The first into heaven
5. they died together
6. rescuers
7. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers
8. on the planes
A Husband is Missing No More
9. High Finance
10. New Americans
11. In the Pentagon
A Man of Unusual Disposition
12. free spirits
13. tower people
14. legacies
The List of the Lost
World Trade Center Occupants
Pentagon
Emergency/Rescue Personnel
American Airline Flight #11 -WTC North Tower
United Airliners Flight #175 -WTC South Tower
American Airlines Flight # 77 – Pentagon
United Airlines Flight #93 – Pennsylvania
Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com
John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO
Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness
- Principal, HoganHospitality.com Expert Witness Services, Workshops, Consulting
- Co-Founder & CLO, HospitalityEducators.com, Resources in Customer Services, Training, Marketing and Sales, Profitability
- Visit johnjhogan.com for Coaching and Development
John@Hoganhospitality.com Office 480-436-0283 Cell 602-799-5375
John J Hogan of HoganHospitality & HospitalityEducators Blog 