Deserving the highest honor: US must honor the anonymous 9/11 heroes of Flight 93 - opinion

Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 have yet to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The article recounts their heroism in attempting to overpower hijackers, preventing an attack on the Capitol, and argues that President Trump should bestow the honor posthumously.

Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 have yet to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award. The article recounts their heroism: after learning of the World Trade Center attacks via phone calls, they formulated a plan to rush the hijackers and retake the cockpit. The hijackers responded by crashing the plane into a Pennsylvania field, killing all on board. The piece argues that the medal, established by President John F. Kennedy, is appropriate for those who made an especially meritorious contribution to national security, and calls on President Donald Trump to bestow the honor posthumously. The article includes detailed accounts of passenger phone calls, including those of Todd Beamer, who said "Let's roll," and Linda Gronlund, who told her sister she loved her. The author is a freelance writer from California who publishes on religion and morality.