'My whole world changed that day.' Former Centerville flight attendant remembers 9/11.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines flight attendant Donna Bartlett took the employee shuttle from the parking lot at Logan International Airport in Boston to the international terminal.
Bartlett, a Centerville resident at the time, was off that day as she was leaving for vacation. Her colleagues Capt. John Ogonowski, lead flight attendant Karen Martin and flight attendants Dianne Snyder and Madeline "Amy" Sweeney, were on the shuttle with her and were about to depart for Los Angeles on board American Airlines Flight 11.
After that, everything changed.
A couple of hours later, and just 15 minutes into the flight from Boston to Los Angeles, hijackers took control of the plane, a Boeing 767, and rerouted it to New York City, where they crashed it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
“Flight 11 was the flight that I always worked on, and I just happened to be on vacation that week,” said Bartlett, in a phone interview with the Times. “My job, my life and my whole world changed that day, it was a devastating time, something I can never, ever forget,” she said.
The most important thing to remember for Bartlett now is recognizing the courage her colleagues showed that day.
“They knew they were going to die and still pushed through above and beyond to inform the outside world about the hijackers,” she said. “That may have saved thousands of lives that day, as every plane was taken out of the sky minutes into their phone call.”
“It was a true act of heroism and I’m very, very proud of my colleagues,” she said.
Bartlett along with Jana Stein and Maureen Winkler, retired flight attendants for American Airlines, will join a ceremony and day of remembrance of the 9/11 attacks in Barnstable this year.
Where are 9/11 memorial events on Cape Cod in 2023?
BARNSTABLE: This is the 15th year the Barnstable Fire Department and St. Mary's Episcopal Church have partnered to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Starting at 9:55 a.m. at the Barnstable Fire Station, the event will begin with a traditional ceremony, led by Barnstable Fire Chief Christopher Beal.
Following the ceremony a procession will be led by Leslie Kenny and Calum MacLachlan on bagpipes and Barnstable Police Department Honor Guard along Route 6A to St. Mary's Church.
Here are other events commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks:
BREWSTER: The Brewster Fire Department will be hosting its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the fire headquarters, at 6 p.m. at 1671 Main St.
The service honors first responders, civilian victims, and their family members who were effected by the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington D.C, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Musical arrangements will be provided by bugler Jeff Mills, the Highland Light Bagpipe Band and singer Sherley Ann-Belleus.
CHATHAM: The Chatham Fire Rescue Department will hold a ceremony to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor the memory of all who lost their lives that day at 9 a.m. in front of the Chatham Fire Station on Depot Road. The guest speaker is the United States Air Force Brigadier General (retired) Anthony ‘Kimo’ Schiavi.
EASTHAM: The Eastham Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 9:50 a.m. in front of the fire station, 2520 State Highway, Eastham.
FALMOUTH: The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department will hold a 9/11 memorial ceremony at 9:45 a.m. in the Memorial Circle at the Fire Rescue Headquarters, 399 Main St. Fire Chief Timothy R. Smith will speak followed by a lowering of the flag and a moment of silence.
HYANNIS: The Hyannis Fire Department will hold a short 9/11 ceremony at 9:45 a.m. at the Hyannis Firefighters Memorial adjacent to the station at 95 High School Road Ext.
PROVINCETOWN: The Provincetown Fire Department will hold its 9/11 ceremony at 9 a.m. at the fire station at 25 Shank Painter Road.
SANDWICH: The Sandwich Fire Department will hold a brief 9/11 ceremony at 9 a.m. at station No. 3, 251 Cotuit Road.
YARMOUTH: The town's 9/11 memorial ceremony will be at 9:50 a.m. at the 9/11 memorial site at Fire Station 3,520 Buck Island Road, West Yarmouth.
HARWICH: The Harwich Fire Department will hold a brief ceremony at 9:45 a.m. at the Robert A. Peterson Firehouse at 175 Sisson Road, Harwich.
CENTERVILLE: Centerville's 9/11 memorial ceremony will be at 9:45 a.m. at its Fire District headquarters at 1875 Falmouth Road, Centerville.
WEST BARNSTABLE: The West Barnstable Fire Department and Cape Cod Community College are hosting a remembrance of the events of 9/11 at 8:15 a.m. at the college at 2240 Iyannough Road, West Barnstable.
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Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about health care and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: These 12 Cape ceremonies Monday remember 9/11 attacks, honor victims
