The Spanish philosopher George Santayana is known for his famous aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Americans today, many of whom proclaimed “Never Forget” after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, have in fact forgotten the lessons of that fateful day.
For retired flight attendant Paul Veneto, forgetting the sacrifice his colleagues made is not an option. So he started the campaign “Paulie’s Push” to honor their memory on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 in 2021.
Veneto has taken it upon himself to raise awareness for the flight crews who died aboard the doomed planes. The second “Paulie’s Push” begins Sept. 8, when Veneto will push his flight attendant cart from Washington Dulles International Airport to the Pentagon.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Veneto explains how he was saved from sharing in his colleagues fate. Originally scheduled to work the Boston to Los Angeles flight, a schedule change ended up saving his life.
“I knew every one of the crew members on UA175,” Paul Veneto told Fox News Digital. “I needed to bring national recognition to the flight crews because of what they did that day,” Veneto said. “I was on a flight when I got the idea to do the push. I was looking at a pushcart and that’s when I realized, this is what I was going to do.”
There have been other memorial walks, marathons and personalized treks across the country to bring awareness to the fading memory of 9/11. Many of the participants focus on a specific community such as veterans and family members of the deceased. Veneto wants the world to know about the heroics displayed by the flight crews that lost their lives.
“You have to recognize the flight attendants for their heroics,” Veneto said. “Because what they did at that time, is mindboggling to think about. They were never trained in dealing with terrorism. So, when I think about what they were going through on the plane that morning, and how they were able to even make a phone call and tell us what was going on, it is crazy to me.”
Veneto continues, “At some point up there they knew they were not going home. We should recognize these guys, and I tried to make people aware but it didn’t seem to work until I started the push last year. I just wanted to bring peace of mind for these crewmembers and their families.”
The lessons learned after 9/11 of unity, shared ideals and a president that sought God following the tower’s fell, have given way to division, tribalism and a government that embraces Marxist ideals that replace God. Much like the Israelites of the Old Testament, America has left the path that God put before it. That path leads to destruction and ruin, but there is hope for America yet.
God tells Solomon, and all of His children, in 2 Chronicles 7:13-16 what to do in these precarious times:
“When I shut up the heaven and there is no rain, or when I command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence on My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer of this place. So now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name be there continually. My eyes and heart will be there for all days.”
A nation that honors God at its forefront can be unified again, much like the good kings of ancient Israel demonstrated. Like the atmosphere of a country that was unified in the wake of terrorist attacks, Paul Veneto’s actions can serve as a memorial to his fallen flight crew family, and a call to repentance to save the soul of a nation. {eoa}
James Lasher is a Copy Editor for Charisma Media.
See an error in this article?
To contact us or to submit an article
