9/11 Memorial is a very tragic yet heartfelt moment of the year as it not only remembers the existence of nearly 3000 humans but also celebrates the love of a husband to his wife and family.
This September 11 marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, which has not only taken the lives of every passenger on United Airlines Flight 175 but also the ones who were present in the World Trade Center. It is mainly remembered for Brian Sweeney’s heartfelt message for his wife.
Brian Sweeney was a pilot traveling on Flight 175 when terrorists hijacked it and crashed it into the World Trade Center. Brian sent an emotional last message to his wife, Julie from an airphone. The crash has taken nearly 3,000 lives, and every soul is remembered each year at the 9/11 Museum & Memorial.
Who Was Brian Sweeney?
Brian David Sweeney was a pilot and United States Navy Instructor who later worked as a defense contractor before his untimely demise. He married his wife, Julie, in Cape Cod, where the couple would live a dream life eventually and permanently.
Apparently, when Julie first saw Brian, she told a friend, “That’s the kind of guy I would marry,” according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Following his marriage, he was allowed to work from home as a defense instructor while his wife, Julie, continued her career as a teacher.
What Happened to Brian Sweeney and What Was His Last Message to His Wife?
On September 11, 2001, Julie was teaching in the classroom like usual when she was interrupted by a call from her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law informed her that the plane Brian was traveling on had crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Apparently, he was heading to Los Angeles from Boston Logan Airport, and at 8:42 a.m., the plane was hijacked by four terrorists: Marwan Al Shehhi, Fayez Banihammad, Mohand Al Sherhi, Ahmed Al Ghamdi, and Hamza al-Ghamdi.
While two hijackers pushed the passengers to the back of the plane, the rest stabbed the pilots with knives and took control of the plane, eventually turning it toward New York City’s World Trade Center.
Knowing that he may not survive the predicament, Brian Sweeney called his wife Julie from an airphone and left a heart-touching message that is still remembered to this day. The message is as follows:
“I’m on an airplane that’s been hijacked if things don’t go well and it’s not looking good, I just want you to know I love you, go have a good time, same to my parents and everybody. I just totally love you and I want you to do good, bye Babe, I’ll try to call you.”
When Julie rushed home after hearing about the news from her mother-in-law, she found the above message on her answering machine. In a video produced by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Julie expressed how she felt after hearing the message.
“When I heard the voicemail, all I thought of was that it’s so Brian. He knew he wasn’t coming home, and it was his final way of letting me know exactly what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to know that no matter what happened, he loved me, and he wanted me to be happy and to move forward and go ahead and have good times and do good things with my life.”
Since the incident, Julie has remarried and had two children. But to this day, she volunteers at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. It’s an extremely tragic story of not just Brian Sweeney but thousands of those who couldn’t send their message to their family one last time.
So, is this your first time hearing about the 9/11 Memorial? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Source: 9/11 Memorial & Museum
