General Vice President Sito Pantoja today issued the following statement on the anniversary of 9/11:
Sisters and Brothers, today marks the eighteenth anniversary of the cowardly attacks that killed thousands of innocent people. It is a day of reflection and remembrance. On that fateful day, there was no shortage of heroism as many people sacrificed their own well-being to help those in need.
The IAM lost three courageous members that day, United Airlines Customer Service employees Marianne McFarland and Jesus Sanchez who were onboard United 175 and IAM Organizer and New York City Firefighter Keith Maynard who died in the World Trade Center collapse.
Let us take a moment today to respectfully honor those three IAM members, the heroic first responders and cabin crew members who perished that day and all the innocent victims and their families who were directly impacted by this tragedy. It is also a day to acknowledge all the Machinists members who work tirelessly every day to make our nation a safer and better place.