September 11, 2006
Hero
Remembering Tom Burnett, a Hero of Flight 93.
Tom was one of the leaders of the passengers who fought back to retake Flight 93 and prevent even more devastation and death.
A born leader, Tom quarterbacked his high school football team to the state championship game. After college, he took a sales job and worked his way up to vice president of Thoratec Corporation in San Ramon, CA.
He met his future wife, Deena, in 1989 and they were married three years later. They had three beautiful daughters. A devoted father, he once insisted that he and Deena travel separately by plane on vacation, so that their girls could not be left parentless should something happen.
When flight 93 was taken over by hijackers,
He made four calls to his wife, Deena, from the plane. Deena Burnett said that her husband told her that one passenger had been stabbed and that "a group of us are going to do something.". He also told her that the people on board knew about the attack on the World Trade Center, apparently through other phone calls.
Tom, Tod Beamer, and Jeremy Glick led the passenger revolt when they learned of the planes that hit the twin towers, and soldiered the first counterattack in the War on Terror.
Tom's legacy is best summarized by a schoolchild commenting on the September 11 website:
[A]t my school we were asked to write about someone brave that was in this horrific tragedy. So I picked Mr. Burnett because he was one the most wonderfulest man that I have ever read about and heard about. He is my hero because of everything he has doneMine too.
There is a street named for Tom Burnett in Pleasanton, CA, honoring his life and his heroism.
What a lovely tribute. You did an awesome job.
mine is up now.
Posted by: Mysterious Lady at September 10, 2006 04:47 PMGreat job, sweetie.
Posted by: Julie at September 10, 2006 05:50 PMGot mine up, with a link to yours. Good stuff, Ken.
Posted by: Nightfly at September 10, 2006 07:57 PMDid you see this, too?
Posted by: caltechgirl at September 10, 2006 08:09 PMThis is a wonderful tribute to a true hero.
Posted by: Dana Huff at September 10, 2006 08:31 PMAn excellent tribute, Ken. Thank you.
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at September 10, 2006 11:18 PMReading about Flight 93 gives me chills. You did a good job.
Mine's up too.
Posted by: alli at September 10, 2006 11:18 PMWell done, Ken.
In all the death and destruction, 9.11.2001 shined the light on lots of heros that day.
Posted by: Hoodlumman at September 11, 2006 06:34 AMWell done, ken.
The honor and courage those folks showed on that day is a high standard for all of us to reach for.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at September 11, 2006 07:01 AMLet's not forget Tom's first child not mentioned here. Miriah Mills who never got a chance to meet her father Tom becasue of the events of 9/11.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/15476714.htm?source=rss&channel=twincities_news
Posted by: Matthew at September 11, 2006 07:49 AMI saw that story about the daughter he gave up for adoption as a young man, too, and had posted a link on my blog as well.
There are so many heroes and we are blessed. Patriot Day is truly an accurate name for today.
Posted by: Army of Mom at September 11, 2006 09:07 AMI saw that too Army of Mom, Matthew - WOW!
As an adopted child myself, I am amazed. WOW!
Posted by: Sharon Ferguson at September 11, 2006 03:27 PMA part of me wants to stop reading these blogs but I just can't seem to stop. I feel like if I read enough of them I will understand....but I haven't yet.
Posted by: Lemon Stand at September 11, 2006 04:23 PMGod bless this man. I'm listening to a tv program about Flight 93, and they're talking about Tom Burnett. The tears are falling. I believe God put Tom and so many of these big, strong guys on that plane that day.
Posted by: Mrs_Who at September 11, 2006 05:26 PMMrs. Who - I was too. I only watched a little bit, a part with Deena Burnett.
LS - I want to read all of them. I know I can't but I'm going to read as many as I can.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at September 11, 2006 06:12 PMSorry, folks, but I just watched a video that proves Flight 93 never crashed. Some day it will land and you will all be sorry you let THEM fool you.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at September 13, 2006 02:28 PMIt's been flying for five years without landing? No wonder the federal deficit is so bad, with those fuel bills.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at September 13, 2006 02:56 PM