09/11/2026
Today is September 11, the 25th anniversary of the attacks. To mark the occasion, a retired United Airlines flight attendant named Paul Veneto is pushing an airplane beverage cart into Ground Zero.
Paul used to work on United Flight 175. He was off duty on the morning it was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower, but he personally knew every crew member on board.
The tragedy deeply affected him. He struggled with addiction for 15 years to cope with the pain, but he finally got sober in 2015. That was when he found a new purpose. He wanted to pay tribute to the flight crews who lost their lives on 9/11. He views them as the true first responders because they had to face the hijackers without any weapons or warning.
Starting in 2021, Paul began pushing a beverage cart along the paths of the four hijacked flights. He walked from Boston to New York, from Washington to the Pentagon, and from Newark to Shanksville.
This year is his final tribute, and he is receiving a lot of support. Other people are pushing carts alongside him, and towns are closing their streets so the group can pass safely. Today, he will walk his final mile down Broadway.
In total, Paul has walked over 1,000 miles pushing one cart. It is his way of showing profound respect for the friends and colleagues who never made it home.
For the heroes in the sky who never asked to be on the front lines, his final steps ensure they will never be forgotten.
