DEENA BURNETT AND 9/11
Last evening I attended the annual Partners Dinner for Central Arkansas Christian Schools. The featured speaker was Deena Burnett. Deena's husband Tom was on flight 93 going home to California. Deena shared with the audience the four phone calls that Tom had made to her that morning. The first call, Tom told her the plane had been hijacked and for her to call the authorities. Prior to the call she had seen an image of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. She was busy with feeding the kids breakfast and had not really sensed what was going on. Tom told her he would call her back. The hijackers were trying to get in the cockpit. The second call a few seconds later, Tom mentioned that he was getting the men organized to storm the cockpit. Deena told him that the second plane had hit the other tower. She had contacted the the FBI, but there was not much they could at the moment. The third call Tom told her they were looking for a rural area before attacking the cockpit. She said she pleaded with Tom to sit in his seat and wait. The fourth and final call came and the I love yous were exchanged. She mentioned she could hear the people in the background and she knew they were ready to do something. She had told him the third plane had hit the Pentagon. The actions of Tom and the rest of the men who on that day probably saved countless numbers from losing their lives since it became evident the flight 93 was headed toward another Federal building.
These men along with Tom became heroes on that fatal day. However, she stated that her husband would never want to be classified as a hero but simply a person who felt he had to do as an individual and make a difference in the lives of people. She received e-mails later of individuals who stated that her husband had impacted their lives. These were people that Tom had never mentioned to her even though they shared everything together. Listening to this lady sharing her story was an inspiring and emotional experience. Her message to the audience last evening was one of dedicating our lives to helping people. Going beyond self and reaching out to those we come in contact with daily. A smile, a hand shake, a hug, a pat on the back and all those things that do make a difference in the lives of those we see on a regular basis. This was a good message not only to our faculty and staff but everyone there including our Board of Directors.
Since her loss of her husband she has helped other victims' families in a number of ways.
She successfully spearheaded an effort to have the Flight 93 cockpit voice recorder released in April 2003, and is currently the lead plantiff in a law suit to bankrupt terroist organizations. She has also twice served in Europe as a witness in the criminal trials of AL Qaeda members. In addition, she is involved in other important roles of service to make our country safe.
Deena now lives in Little Rock with her three daughters Haley, Madison and Anne Clare. He has remarried to Rodney Bailey and his son, Tanner.
This message left me wondering. Why are there those in this great nation who are so set against our doing everything possible in fighting terroism not only here but abroad? What scares me most,there is a possibility the next President will do whatever it takes to abort all the efforts now going on. What a tragedy that will be.
