Alumni Achievement Award Presented Posthumously to Thomas F. Burnett, Jr.

St. John's University, Minnesota ^ | 3/17/02 | St. John's University Alumni Association

[johniegrad]

Each spring, the Saint John's University Alumni Association Board of Directors selects four Johnnies to receive the Alumni Achievement Award. The award recognizes alumni for outstanding career success and/or outstanding volunteer service to church and community. This year a fifth alumnus, Thomas F. Burnett, Jr., '85, has been selected for his heroic action on September 11, 2001.

Tom was a victim of the September 11th terrorist hijacking and crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Pittsburgh. He is survived by his wife, Deena, and three young daughters. During the hijacking, he called his wife at their home in San Ramon, CA, and told her "I know that we're all going to die - there's three of us who are going to do something about it." The last thing he told Deena was that he loved her.

A graduate of Bloomington Jefferson High School, Tom attended Saint John's University from 1981-1984. Tom's Saint John's roomate, Vince Fahnlander, recalls that Tom was a natural leader; "People liked him and gravitated toward him."

Those who knew Tom were not surprised that he decided to do something about the hijacking of Flight 93, Deena said. "He always believed that God gave us the choice for evil or good - that was his philosophy of life. Tom figured that these people were doing evil instead of good, and he decided to do something about it."

Tom's parents, Thomas Sr. and Beverly Burnett, will accept this award on behalf of their son.

[johniegrad]

Never forget!!! We won't!!! Johnnies, Johnnies!!!

[johniegrad]

Minnesota bump. Johnnies bump!!!

[Aeronaut]

Minnesota bump.

[johniegrad]

bttt

[Glick & Burnett live on.]

Thanks a lot guys.

[Caleb1411]

I'll pass this on to several St. John's grads at work.

[johniegrad]

Thanks. The Alumni Recognition Dinner is 12 April 02. They should have gotten their invitations already.

[VOA]

Deena said. "He always believed that God gave us the choice for evil or good -
that was his philosophy of life.
Tom figured that these people were doing evil instead of good, and he decided to do something about it."

IIRC, Burnett was the fellow whose wife tried to convince him to sit down
and not make a scene when he called her from the airplane.

I've got to admit...if the wife was telling Burnett to "play it safe" and he acted anyway
that's one heck of MAN in my book.
Reminds me about the movie "High Noon" when so many people failed to act when their
help was needed. But, thank Heavens (assuming the White House or Capital Hill was a target),
Burnett just wasn't that kind of person.

And I pray that his wife and family are coming to terms with this, even after six months have passed.

[patent]

Thanks for the bump. May he rest in peace.

[JulieRNR21]

WE will always remember September 11......and the heroic actions of the passengers of Flight 93...they fought and won the first battle against terrorism!

[johniegrad]

bttt

[MozartLover]

I didn't know he was a Johnny! Thanks for the ping.

[MozartLover]

This is my two brothers' alma mater..........

[Molly Pitcher]

A wonderful way to honor a great hero! Thanks, ML, for the ping..

[Alpenkatze]

St. John's is a great school, and this is obviously a great man. God bless both of them.

[morethanenough]

Thanks for the information. My brother-in-law and nephew both graduated from St. John's. What wonderful people it produces. And thanks, Tom Burnett, for your heroism.

[johniegrad]

Thanks for your reply.

[johniegrad]

Attended the Alumni Recognition Dinner last night in Collegeville. Very moving dedication to Tom. Had a chance to talk with his father and told him I would be posting to FreeRepublic tonight. They will soon be reviewing the information of the cockpit data recordings. Investigators told the family they believe that Tom was actually the passenger who initiated the assault on the Muslim criminals and was the one who let the charge. Left behind three small daughters. Tom, Sr. says hello to all at FreeRepublic who have been so supportive.