Retired United Airlines flight attendant Paul Veneto has pushed an airline beverage cart more than 750 miles along routes symbolizing the flight paths of the four aircraft hijacked on September 11, 2001. In 2021 he pushed from Boston-Logan to Ground Zero in Manhattan. In 2022 he pushed from Washington-Dulles to the Pentagon for American Flight 77. In 2023 he pushed from Newark-Liberty to the National Flight 93 Memorial in Stoystown/Shanksville. And in 2024 he pushed from the Boston Public Garden 9/11 Contemplative Garden to Ground Zero for American 11.
On August 15, the final Push to Ground Zero begins. Paulie hopes to meet as many of his followers, and hear as many of their stories, as possible on this final journey. When the cart reaches Ground Zero by September 11, 2026 it will have been pushed over 1,000 miles in honor of the flight crews — the “first, first responders” that day. And many of those miles will see it pushed by the communities that he’ll pass through, and members of the September 11 community who join him along the route.
In many communities Veneto will have an extra beverage cart — and up to four — on hand, so that community members can join him in the Push. His team is coordinating with community leaders in advance; more information will be released as it becomes available.