WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Like so many other Americans,
Melodie Homer's life changed forever on September 11, 2001. That day, she
became a widow.
Her husband went to work early that morning. Captain LeRoy
Homer was the First Officer and Co-Pilot on United Flight 93. After takeoff,
the crew was informed of what had happened at the World Trade Center, but
little did they know among the 37 passengers on Flight 93 were four hijackers.
Just under an hour into the flight, the four took control of
the plane, made a 180 degree turn to head towards Washington, with the
suspected target being the US Capital.
Homer said she never planned to write a book about that day,
but felt compelled to do so, in an effort to correct a lot of what she calls "wrong
information." Proceeds from the book sales of From Where I Stand go toward the Leroy W. Homer Jr. Foundation.
"There was a lot of information that came out,
initially, but was then proven to be incorrect, in certain ways, after the 911
commission report came out," explained Homer.
Seven months after the crash, she was allowed to listen to
the tape of United Flight 93, and was able to quickly identify her husband's
voice, when he sounded the alert to Cleveland control about what was taking
place in the cockpit.
"I heard my husband's voice very clearly on those
tapes, yelling, you know, ‘mayday, mayday, get out of here,'" said Homer.
She also learned from the FBI that her husband's DNA remains
were not found in the cockpit, but in the rear of the plane.
Homer also talks about her three trips to Shanksville,
Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed. The author is looking forward to
returning to the site, but going by herself.
"I am allowed to go back to the area, which they call
the "sacred ground," and it has a very peaceful feeling to it," said Homer.
Even though her husband is gone, it is clear the memories of
Leroy are still very much alive.
"He was the love of my life," said Homer. "I miss him a lot, I still do."
From Where I Stand
is now available at local bookstores.
Copyright 2013 WECT. All rights reserved.
Homer said she never planned to write a book about that day, but felt compelled to do so, in an effort to correct a lot of what she calls "wrong information."
