Family Holds Onto Heartfelt Note from 9/11 Victim Dora Menchaca
A handwritten note from a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 has become a cherished keepsake for a Southern California family. The note, written by Dora Menchaca to her husband Earl, was discovered among her belongings after the plane crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Menchaca's brother John received the devastating news of his sister's death that morning while he was at work in downtown LA. He had just arrived for the day when his father called to tell him about Dora's involvement in the tragedy.
The note, dated September 11, 2001, reads 'Dear Earl. I love you. Please take care of Imani and Jaryd for me.' Menchaca was a 45-year-old mother of two who worked at Amgen's Thousand Oaks headquarters since 1991, helping to develop cancer and pneumonia drugs.
Her brother attended a remembrance ceremony in San Gabriel on Friday, joining people around Southern California and across the country in a day of mourning. Menchaca reflected on the importance of remembering his sister every year, saying 'I think as a country, regardless of what's going on, I think we need to take this day and come together as best we can.'