In a heartfelt tribute to the friends and colleagues he lost during the September 11 terror attacks, former flight attendant Paul Veneto embarks on an unforgettable journey. Veneto is pushing an airline beverage cart from Boston’s Logan Airport to the World Trade Center site in New York, retracing the tragic path of American Flight 11.
The grieving flight attendant
Veneto, who personally knew the crew members of Flight 11 that crashed into one of the Twin Towers, is walking the 220-mile distance in their memory. This poignant journey, known as “Paulie’s Push,” marks its fourth iteration this year. Each year, Veneto follows a different flight path associated with the 9/11 attacks.
Past routes and challenges
In previous years, Veneto has taken on other significant routes. Last year, he walked from Newark, New Jersey, to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, representing the path of Flight 93. This was his longest journey, spanning 300 miles. Veneto’s inaugural tribute walk in 2021 followed the flight path of Flight 175, the plane carrying his friends and coworkers on that fateful day.
A close call: Veneto’s narrow escape
The terror attacks of September 11, 2001, remain etched in Veneto’s memory. He vividly recalls arriving in Boston just the night before the attacks. “I came in the night before. I landed at 8 p.m. in Boston,” Veneto told News12 Connecticut. “I got off the airplane the next morning. I knew the crew that was on that plane that hit the second tower.” His proximity to the tragic events adds a personal layer to his annual pilgrimage.
Community support along the way
As Veneto recently passed through Connecticut, he received a warm welcome from the Middletown police and a fire truck, which joined him in solidarity as he walked through the city. Such community support underscores the widespread impact and collective mourning for the lives lost on 9/11.
With this year’s push, Veneto will have completed all the significant flight paths associated with the 9/11 attacks. However, he envisions a future where “Paulie’s Push” becomes a community event. “Let the community push for the cart for three days—school kids, anybody,” he said. “And then it goes to the next town, and the next town, so everybody gets involved in it.”
Paul Veneto’s dedication to honoring the memories of those lost on 9/11 through his annual “Paulie’s Push” is a moving testament to the power of remembrance and community. As he continues his journey, he not only commemorates the past but also inspires future generations to remember and honor the sacrifices made on that tragic day.