Description

A decade after September 11, 2001, the nation continues to mourn what was lost on that sunny Tuesday morning: nearly 3,000 lives, and the innocence of a nation that will forever be changed. The killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011 may have been a victory for the country, but for the individuals who were deeply and directly affected by his actions, his death did little to end the nightmare.

LeRoy W. Homer, Jr. was the first officer and co-pilot of United Flight 93; en route to San Francisco the morning of September 11, the flight was diverted to Washington, D.C., before crashing into a deserted field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Had it not been for the heroic efforts of crew members such as LeRoy, the plane would have crashed into its intended target—the U.S. Capitol—destroying more lives and the symbol of a nation united.

Written by Homer’s wife, Melodie, From Where I Stand chronicles the events of that singular day and the “new normal” that ensued: media calling for a quote every time a story broke related to September 11; raising children and celebrating their milestones while living with post-traumatic stress disorder; and standing up to LeRoy’s employer, United Airlines. The last
ten years have been a daily struggle, yet as Melodie proves in this ultimately uplifting journey, “there is a better future ahead.”