Retired flight attendant pushes beverage cart from Boston to ground zero to honor 9/11 victims
As a flight attendant, Paulie Veneto spent much of his adult life pushing a beverage cart up and down the aisles of planes, and he absolutely loved it.
"I really would've done that job without pay because the interactions I had with the passengers and the camaraderie with my fellow flight attendants were just amazing to me," Veneto told TPG. "I was never interested in flying a plane. What I loved was meeting the people from all over the world."
Like so many of us, Veneto could never have imagined or prepared for the events of Sept. 11, 2001. He also never thought that he would mark the 20th anniversary of that tragic day by pushing a beverage cart 240 miles from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to the site of the 2001 World Trade Center collapse in New York City — but that is exactly what he did.
When Veneto set out on the first Paulie's Push, he did so with the intention of recognizing the "first, first responders" of 9/11: the flight crews who did everything in their power to mitigate the effects of a massive terrorist attack.
"American Flight 11 was the very first aircraft to be hijacked that morning, and we know from the recordings we’ve all heard that these crew members were truly the ‘first, first responders’ of September 11," Veneto said in a press release promoting this year's push. "They were relaying important information to the ground under horrendous conditions. If I can bring awareness to what they did that morning, that’s the very least I can do."
Related: Retired flight attendant pushing beverage cart from Dulles to Pentagon to honor 9/11 victims
Veneto felt that more needed to be done to recognize the heroism displayed by the crew members who lost their lives that day.
"Flight attendants didn't get the same recognition as other first responders, and nobody is to blame for that," Veneto said. He understands that the enormity of the day made it impossible to honor every person who played a role in trying to prevent what happened.
As a flight attendant, Veneto often flew United Airlines Flight 175 — the Boston-to-Los Angeles route that was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. So, he was in a unique position to give those flight attendants the recognition they deserved. Because of his work paying tribute to the flight crews and their loved ones, Veneto received a "Hero in Travel" award at the 2022 TPG Awards.
This year marks the fourth Paulie's Push. In 2022, Veneto pushed his cart 35 miles from Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., to the Pentagon. Last year he set out on a 300-mile journey from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania.
This year, Veneto will once again trace the route from Boston to ground zero. This time, he will push his beverage cart 210 miles from the Boston Public Garden 9/11 Memorial to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at ground zero in New York City. This year's push commemorates American Flight 11, and it rounds out the four flights hijacked on 9/11.
He set out for this year's push Aug. 18 and will arrive at ground zero Sept. 11. Along the way, he will make various stops for speaking engagements. You can make donations and follow along with Paulie's Push via real-time map updates on his website.
It should go without saying that pushing a beverage cart was far from the most important thing Veneto did in his career as a flight attendant. Like all flight attendants, Veneto's primary responsibility was the safety of those aboard his aircraft.
Even now, as he makes his annual push, the cart is only a symbol for Veneto's primary objective: to honor his fallen crew members and bring awareness to the heroism they displayed when faced with unimaginable danger.
Related reading:
- The 'notable' way flight attendants show their gratitude to frequent flyers
- Inside the grueling 14-week flight attendant training at one of the world’s top-ranked airlines
- We asked a flight attendant for their top insider tips on flying like a pro
- Top tips from a flight attendant to avoid the worst of summer’s travel headaches
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.