Posted on 09/11/2018 6:13:11 AM PDT by Heartlander
Everybody’s favorite television host, Mike Rowe, has become well-known for his measured response to the biggest scandal of the day. He is careful to hold his tongue, but when he comes out with a few words on the matter, it is invariably wise and fair. Rowe took to Facebook Monday after being asked about his views on the Nike advertisement controversy – his words were exceptional.
"We're Going to Do Something."Youve been very quiet about the Kaepernick PR disaster at Nike. Any thoughts? – Sam…
Posted by Mike Rowe on Monday, September 10, 2018
“Nike’s free to celebrate whomever they wish, and Kaepernick is entitled to his opinion – kneeling, standing, or lying down.,” Rowe qualified at the beginning of his post. “But if I was going to put someone’s face on a billboard – someone who epitomized bravery and sacrifice – I might have gone another way, especially this time of year. I might have gone with this guy – Tom Burnett.”
Tom Burnett was one of the heroic passengers onboard the infamous Flight 93 some 17 years ago. When he and a few fellow passengers figured out that the hijackers of their plane were on a suicide mission, they decided to do something about it. Their bravery and heroism likely saved countless lives, and will never, ever be forgotten.
“Tom’s last act on earth was one of the most courageous things imaginable. And his last words to his wife, Deena, are among the most inspiring I’ve ever heard,” Rowe continued. “Those exact words are at the top of this page, and the bottom. They were spoken seventeen years ago, under conditions I hope to never experience. I’ll never forget Tom’s last words. I hope you won’t either.”
The words were spoken following a frantic conversation with his wife in which he gleaned information about the World Trade Center attacks and quickly realized the entire plane, plus those on the ground target, were in grave danger.
“We’re Going to Do Something,” he declared, before hanging up. Those were the last words Burnett spoke to his wife.
On the eve of the 17-year anniversary of that tragic day, Rowe recalled the scene in excrutiating detail:
Transcript of Tom’s Last Calls to Deena
6:27 a.m.( pacific time) First cell phone call from Tom to Deena
Deena: Hello
Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, are you O.K.?
Tom: No, Im not. Im on an airplane that has been hijacked.
Deena: Hijacked?
Tom: Yes, They just knifed a guy.
Deena: A passenger?
Tom: Yes.
Deena: Where are you? Are you in the air?
Tom: Yes, yes, just listen. Our airplane has been hijacked. Its United Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco. We are in the air. The hijackers have already knifed a guy, one of them has a gun, they are telling us there is a bomb on board, please call the authorities. He hung up.6:31 Deena calls 911
6:34 The phone rang in on call waiting, Toms second cell phone call.Deena: Hello
Tom: Theyre in the cockpit. The guy they knifed is dead.
Deena: Hes dead?
Tom: Yes. I tried to help him, but I couldnt get a pulse.
Deena: Tom, they are hijacking planes all up and down the east coast. They are taking them and hitting designated targets. Theyve already hit both towers of the World Trade Center.
Tom: Theyre talking about crashing this plane. (a pause) Oh my God. Its a suicide mission (he then tells people sitting around him)
Deena: Who are you talking to?
Tom: My seatmate. Do you know which airline is involved?
Deena: No, they dont know if theyre commercial airlines or not. The newsreporters are speculating cargo planes, private planes and commercial. No one knows.
Tom: How many planes are there?
Deena: Theyre not sure, at least three. Maybe more.
Tom: O.K .O.K .Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No.
Tom: Were turning back toward New York. Were going back to the World Trade Center. No, wait, were turning back the other way. Were going south.
Deena: What do you see?
Tom: Just a minute, Im looking. I dont see anything, were over a rural area. Its just fields. Ive gotta go.6:45 a.m. Third cell phone call from Tom to Deena
Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, youre O.K. (I thought at this point he had just survived the Pentagon plane crash).
Tom: No, Im not.
Deena: They just hit the Pentagon.
Tom: (tells people sitting around him They just hit the Pentagon.)
Tom: O.K .O.K. What else can you tell me?
Deena: They think five airplanes have been hijacked. One is still on the ground. They believe all of them are commercial planes. I havent heard them say which airline, but all of them have originated on the east coast.
Tom: Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No
Tom: What is the probability of their having a bomb on board? I dont think they have one. I think theyre just telling us that for crowd control.
Deena: A plane can survive a bomb if its in the right place.
Tom: Did you call the authorities?
Deena: Yes, they didnt know anything about your plane.
Tom: Theyre talking about crashing this plane into the ground. We have to do something. Im putting a plan together.
Deena: Whos helping you?
Tom: Different people. Several people. Theres a group of us. Dont worry. Ill call you back.6:54 a.m. Fourth cell phone call to Tom to Deena
Deena: Tom?
Tom: Hi. Anything new?
Deena: No
Tom: Where are the kids?
Deena: Theyre fine. Theyre sitting at the table having breakfast. Theyre asking to talk to you.
Tom: Tell them Ill talk to them later.
Deena: I called your parents. They know your plane has been hijacked.
Tom: Oh you shouldnt have worried them. How are they doing?
Deena: Theyre O.K.. Mary and Martha are with them.
Tom: Good.(a long quiet pause)
Tom: Were waiting until were over a rural area. Were going to take back the airplane.
Deena: No! Sit down, be still, be quiet, and dont draw attention to yourself! (The exact words taught to me by Delta Airlines Flight Attendant Training).
Tom: Deena! If theyre going to crash this plane into the ground, were going to have do something!
Deena: What about the authorities?
Tom: We cant wait for the authorities. I dont know what they could do anyway.
Its up to us. I think we can do it.
Deena: What do you want me to do?
Tom: Pray, Deena, just pray.(after a long pause)
Deena: I love you.
Tom: Dont worry, were going to do something…
You can learn more about Tom’s life and work by visiting the Tom Burnett Foundation.
Nothing meaningful comes up with the “Nike_Position” link, so I’m going to guess “rear entry”.
Perfect!
Joe Scarborough should read this and be ashamed of himself.
Kneeling. Took me a minute, too.
Wow. I havent read this particular account before.
We recently visited the flight 93 Memorial. It was very well done.
I love how this guy was able to compartmentalize his emotions and deal with the job at hand, knowing he probably wouldnt survive.
Thats a hero, not some flunky who can throw a ball and run his mouth.
I watch NASCAR a lot and have certain favorite drivers. Never once have they risen to the level of heroism.
My list of personal heros is actually pretty short.
Never Forget,
911.
Didn’t I read in another thread that Kaepernick’s relationship prior to his Muslim radical was a trans named Mia?
Excellent response.
I wonder why he deleted the post.
Nike would never have chosen Tom Burnett for their ad campaign. Reading his story just emphasizes what a POS Kaepernick and his champions are.
I don’t get it.
I love the smell of Nikes burning in the morning, it smell like victory.
Bob Ross knockoff...
Tom Burnett s courage and presence of mind in the face of such horror is amazing. He is a true hero regardless of ones definition of the word. I have never read this conversation before.
Dang, that transcript hits hard.
That brought a tear to my eyes. Oh, how I can only dream that I respond as those on Flight 93 did that day.
Amen and God Speed their souls
“Let’s Roll!”
Was another termed used on that Flight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.