In Memory of TWA 800

July 17, 1996

17 years ago a TWA 747 took flight, headed for Paris. That flight lasted only 12 minutes. But the terror and pain would last a lifetime.

What began as a normal flight, would turn the world upside down with grief. The Seattle Times recently said that it's official, "the fuel tanks exploded." Many still believe that it was a missile that took out the plane. Today a documentary will air and maybe we can learn more.

Despite the reason how this happened, the result was the same. Families were blown apart over the senseless loss of their loved ones. One such person, Captain Mark L. Berry, had lost his fiance, and his years of healing, ended up in a memoir, 13,760 Feet Living with TWA Flight 800.

It's hard to imagine having the love of your life depart the world in such an accident. But to have it happen on your airline with your friends, it's hard to imagine how to cope. Mark learned how to survive through his writing and music.

Moving forward when tragedy happens takes strength and courage. It doesn't mean we forget, but we owe it to those who have passed to live our best lives. In memory of TWA800 I am honoring Mark for sharing his story of how to live again.

I have the honor to read the most incredible memoir, and doing so has brought tears to my eyes, and pain to my heart for a love that was and should have lasted a lifetime. In essence, it had. How I connected with this pilot/author... I'm not sure. But I was touched by a moment in the history of his love story. New York. 1996. I was flying to Paris behind TWA 800. - See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf

Follow Mark on Twitter @AV8R_Author  

And visit him at MarkLBerry.com

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf

Excerpt from Mark L. Berry’s Memoir:

"The sky was that deep shade of blue you only see at dusk during summer, in the moments just before the sun finally sets. The ocean, having absorbed radiation, heat, and light all day, set up a low shimmer above the steadily rolling waves as the atmosphere tried to reclaim what the sun had tirelessly delivered while passing overhead. The sea and sky seemed to be shaking a thousand hands along that stretched horizon. The distant colored sails of leisure boats jibed and tacked—small irregular triangles bending and pulling their water-skimming vessels. And above the were departing aircraft... A recent departure from JFK International airport joins the procession...unaware that anything was about to go fatally wrong."

Mark L. Berry

Mark L Berry is a contributing editor at Airways magazine, and you can find additional excerpts in up and coming issues. One day his memoir will be available and you can own a copy, too. But for now check out his novels: Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun and Street Justice

I hope one day we will know the truth. This event is one of my most visual memories flying. While I did not see anything that would give me reason to believe one way or another, I suspect this plane blew up from more than fuel tanks. For those who know the truth, the truth shall set you free.

Whatever you are doing today, 

take a moment and remember.  

Enjoy the Journey
XO Karlene

Follow Mark on Twitter @AV8R_Author  

And visit him at MarkLBerry.com

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf

Follow Mark on Twitter @AV8R_Author  

And visit him at MarkLBerry.com

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf

Follow Mark on Twitter @AV8R_Author  

And visit him at MarkLBerry.com

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf

Follow Mark on Twitter @AV8R_Author  

And visit him at MarkLBerry.com

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-loving-memory-of.html#sthash.0eDp6of6.dpuf