Retired flight attendant pushing a beverage cart from Logan to NYC to honor his fallen co-workers

MILTON, Mass. — September 11, 2021, will mark 20 years since one of the darkest days in American history. Two of the planes that departed Boston’s Logan Airport were flown into Manhattan’s Twin Towers.

A former flight attendant, who was based out of Boston, is honoring his co-workers who lost their lives on 9/11 in a very unique and meaningful way.

“It’s a long way to New York, but I will drag that thing. I will do whatever I have to do to get it there,” said Paul Veneto.

The 62-year-old Milton native is training to push an airline beverage cart from Logan Airport to Ground Zero for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It’s his way to honor the flight attendants killed on that fateful day. He has pictures on his cart of each one. Vento said it’s bothered him these crew members are rarely recognized for their heroics.

“I always thought of the families of these crew members. Holidays would come and their birthday and especially the anniversary, you know, they weren’t just killed up on an airplane. What they did up there was extraordinary under those conditions. It was unbelievable,” he said.

Veneto worked for nearly 20 years as a flight attendant for airlines all over the world. The night before 9/11, he flew into Boston on a United Airlines flight. Seven of his fellow flight attendants flew out the next morning on United Flight 175. That plane was hijacked and deliberately crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

“The whole country came together after 9/11 and people don’t realize it started up there. There were trained assassins they were up against, hand-to-hand combat. I can’t even imagine, but what they did was show what America is really about,” Veneto said.

That day sent Veneto into a tailspin of drug addiction. He said he flew 10 years on opiates, numbing himself out from the thoughts of 9/11.

“It was truly a miracle to me. It really was a miracle. I say that and get the chills because it truly was a miracle that I came out of it. It was truly a miracle,” he said.

It’s now time for the miracle man to push forward, with his beverage cart. All the way from Boston to New York City.

Veneto will depart Logan Airport on September 1 and hopes to arrive at Ground Zero on September 11. That will also mark his 6th anniversary of sobriety.

To learn more about Veneto’s journey: https://www.pauliespush.com/

Cox Media Group