The Legacy of Flight 93

The BackBlast:

It’s my understanding that Latta is one of the original F3 AO’s launching soon after AG started to gain momentum.   Latta is a fairly under the radar AO, with a good group of Pax that post for an above average beat down for a Saturday morning followed by a coffeeteria that normally has spirited conversation about solving all the problems of the world.    Anyway, it’s rare that a back blast results from Latta but given the anniversary date of today, YHC thought it was warranted.

The Thang:

“Let’s Roll” out of parking lot to the end of Latta Park.

COP- SSH, IW, Grapevine Stretch, Copperhead Squat, Merkins, Peter Parkers, Mtn Climbers.

Mosey to Atrium Parking Deck.

In honor of Todd Beamer:

Stair Climbs to the Top x 4,  15 Merkins at the top, 15 Squats at the bottom

Round of Mary on the top

In honor of Mark Bingham:

7’s on top of deck, Carolina Dry Docks on Top, Squats at bottom

Mosey to bottom of Dead Presidents

In honor of Tom Burnett:

Up Dead Presidents 10 plank jacks each president, dips at the top

In honor of Jeremy Glick:

Up Dead Presidents- 10 Carolina Dry Docks each president

Wait for the six at the top and mosey back to Latta Park

COT

4.4 miles.

Q with the take out.

 

NMM:

YHC couldn’t be the only one that has gotten tired of hearing people tell me to “be safe” this past year.   Yes, pandemics suck and involve a certain amount of risk evaluation but judging by the number of times I was told to “be safe”, I would think that the highest virtue in America this past year has been the pursuit of risk mitigation.   Like many Americans I remember the horrors of September 11, 2001 like it was yesterday.  Although it was 20 years ago, I am 36 now, at the time I was 16 sitting in Latin class in high school daydreaming of cars, girls, and sports, not the proper Latin conjugation of “to farm” (agricola, agricolas, agricolarum, etc).   We watched the events on television, and even though we were young and immature, I think everyone knew this event would change the course of history for the 21^st century.   Every year, around this time, I read about the events of that day again.  Of particular interest, I read about the events of United Flight 93.   Unfortunately, that event gets overshadowed by the tragedies at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but I find the heroism that occurred on that flight incredible.   The passengers of Flight 93 decided to act and overtake the terrorists, taking back the plane.   We all know that the plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA killing all 33 passengers and 7 crew members aboard.    My attention is drawn to the four men who upon learning of the other hijacked planes, quickly made a plan and lead the attack on the cockpit.   Those men were Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick.   The four didn’t know each other before that day but had many similarities.  I learned that all four men were in their 30’s, the typical age of any number of Pax you see posting in the gloom.   All worked in business, two working in sales, one was a PR executive and one a COO of a medical device company.   All four of the men were athletes, playing sports through college.   Todd Beamer was a two-sport athlete playing baseball and basketball.    Mark Bingham was a rugby player in college.  Tom Burnett was the quarterback of his college football team.  Jeremy Glick also played rugby in college and was a national champion in Judo.  Three out of the four were married with young children.   Todd Beamer’s wife was five months pregnant with his daughter.  It struck me that all four were the type of man you would see posting any typical day in the gloom.   It is believed that the terrorists’ target for Flight 93 was the US Capitol Building.   It is a tragedy that the 40 people died when that plane went down, but the actions of these four men saved an untold number of Americans from dying on that fateful day.   The four men could have obeyed the terrorists’ orders.   It was thought that the terrorists killed one of the flight attendants and at least one of the pilots with box cutters.  Clearly there was danger in fighting back.  Rather than obey and stay seated, they chose to act.  I like to think that the hijackers were terrified when they saw those men charge down the aisle.   F3 talks about becoming HIM, and I can’t think of being more impactful than what these men decided to do that day.     Perhaps the legacy we should take from these four men on Flight 93 is to choose to be courageous rather than to be safe.   All four were regular men, taking what was supposed to be a routine flight, but chose through their action to be truly uncommon men.   The last known words of Todd Beamer were to Lisa Jefferson, a phone operator he was conveying the situation to.   Speaking to his compatriots he said, “Are you ready? Okay. Let’s roll”.

Todd Beamer  11/24/1968- 9/11/2001  Aged 32

Mark Bingham   5/22/1970- 9/11/2001   Aged 31

Tom Burnett   5/29/1963- 9/11/2001       Aged 38

Jeremy Glick  9/3/1970- 9/11/2001           Aged 31

May their names never be forgotten.

 

YHC,

Sausage