Twenty-five years after 9/11, the daughter of a hero remembers the mother she lost

Anna Sweeney Rossman was 5 when her mother, flight attendant Amy Sweeney, was killed aboard American Airlines flight 11 after helping authorities identify the hijackers

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the daughter of a hero remembers the mother she lost

TL;DR

  • Anna Sweeney Rossman was five years old when her mother, flight attendant Amy Sweeney, died on 9/11.
  • Rossman's grief initially focused on her mother's absence during personal milestones like her wedding and the births of her daughters.
  • She finds strength in her mother's valor, who alerted authorities about hijackers on American Airlines flight 11.
  • The Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery, established in honor of her mother, recognizes civilians for exceptional bravery.
  • Rossman is raising her daughters in Acton, Massachusetts, and often visits familiar places from her childhood.
  • She pursued a career in investigating money laundering and anti-terrorism due to her mother's fate.
  • Rossman has followed the legal proceedings for the 9/11 defendants, expressing that prolonged trials do not help affected families.
  • Her message to the US is to 'Be kind to your neighbors,' highlighting the importance of community support.