United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has penned his thoughts as we reflect upon the 9/11 attacks 22 years later.
Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, Emphasizes Service As He Reflects On 9/11
Unlike his predecessor Oscar Munoz, Kirby typically prefers video over written notes. Today, however, he posted the following note concerning the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 on Instagram:
Today is a day that we pause to reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001. For the last 22 years, this day has reaffirmed @united’s commitment to unity and the values that make our company and our county strong.
When I was at @af_academy a couple of weeks ago, I happened to walk by a wall where each class picks a leader to emulate. Out of the corner of my eye I recognized LeRoy Homer, Jr. who was the First Officer on UA93 on that tragic day – he’s the exemplar for the current class.
At United, we remember all of our friends and family that were on flights UA175 and UA93 by honoring their memory with a month dedicated to service. Our third annual September of Service is underway, a month we dedicate to giving back to our communities in honor of the 9/11 anniversary. This year we are teaming up with partner nonprofit organizations to provide 65+ volunteer opportunities for our employees across the country. This is a great example of how our teams can come together in the communities where we live, work and fly and really make a difference, from installing solar panels to packing meals to upcycling amenity kits. Last September, more than 1,600 United employees volunteered 6,000+ hours (triple than the year before) and we hope to make an even bigger impact this year.
How our airline and the country responded to the unspeakable tragedies of September 11, is a testament to all of the good in the world. And that is what we choose to honor today. #neverforget
I quite like the concept of a September of Service and often think of how the world might look different today if we had poured more resources into national service after the 9/11 attacks rather than two futile wars.
The concept of any compulsory service seems to agitate many people, but I do encourage all of us to volunteer this month to help make your community a better place, however that may look. We are stronger together than apart. The aim of terrorism is to instill fear and division. Sometimes that works exactly according to the plan. 22 years later, may that not be true for us.
image: scottkirby / Instagram
The war in Afghanistan was not futile. If the U.S. did not go into Afghanistan after they refused to extradite bin Laden and, instead, the U.S. just filed papers against bin Ladin in federal court, al Qaeda would have been even more bold and would have had repeated terrorists attacks in the US in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, etc. You think bin Laden would think “I’ve had enough fun, time to be nice to America!”. No.
There could have been different management of Afghanistan, however. The US fine tuned it so that about 2500 troops could hold the country. If that strategy was done starting in 2008, more lives would have been saved. 2500 troops is nothing. There are far more US troops in Korea or Germany.
No worries, al Qaeda is soon to be America’s best friends. Maybe it will be in 20 years. Already we embrace Japan and Germany even though they killed a lot of Americans and lots of Jews, in the case of Germany. Already we are starting to embrace Vietnam. By the year 2050, 9/11 will be just a “misunderstanding among friends”. Ugh. (Vietnam is still our enemy and Japan/Germany are to be view with a bit of caution as Germany still politically stabs America in the back occasionally)
What kind of “service” is Mr. Kirby providing as a volunteer? He does not give any example .
Does this mean Kirby, by honoring his statement for September Service, will add an additional flight attendant on his private jet while others sleep in airports during meltdowns? Asking for a friend.