Reclaiming the Sky

Book excerpt: On the morning of September 11, 2001, thousands of airline and airport professionals headed off for what they assumed would be just another day on the job. It was anything but. Approaching the fifth anniversary of that tragic day, the stories of the heroes and casualties among these dedicated air travel workers remain largely untold--until now. A compassionate and ultimately uplifting reflection on the nature of loss and the seeds of recovery, Reclaiming the Sky honors not only those workers who died doing their jobs, but also the ones that soldiered through on that day and in the aftermath, tirelessly piecing back together the fragments of a shattered industry--and indeed a critical social and economic force--while putting aside their own fears and grief.In conjunction with a website, reclaimingthesky.com--where readers can share their stories and thoughts--the book not only honors the heroes and casualties of 9/11, it also offers common ground to those seeking meaning, purpose and the strength to move forward.