are the four of us- betty myself my parents she was the youngest of four in a tight knit family betty ongwas born and raised in san francisco chinatown. she used to play here at the chinese recreation center in two thousand twelve the city renamed the center. in her honor. betty ann ong chinese recreation center. the spirit of any and all that is one of. joy and perseverance community leader reverend norman fong a family friend led the effort to rename the center to honor the hometown hero strength in the face of adversity. i love. the baby and all the story in the hope. that the kids and everybody appreciate that and those kids today who knows one of them could be. a hero a hero and- for the future. almost as their family had modest means betty wanted to help people and see the world. being a flight attendant was her dream. is very peaceful. the family has a niche at cypress filled with items betty loved. i just remember her and i remember her every day. and i think about her and what happened to her. and my thought would be we just never had a chance to say goodbye. the family forever c

among them betty ong on flight 11. that was the first plane that crashed into the world trade center and it was betty who alerted authorities that the plane had been hijacked. this morning we're hearing from betty's brother harry who reflects on that terrifying day, his sister's bravery and the legacy of his family's loss. >> memories of 9/11 for a lot of people are getting fainter and fainter. >> reporter: nearly 20 years have gone by and while memories might gradually fade, harry ong's heart will never forget. >> here we are today, 20th anniversary and we don't really think of it as an anniversary because it's with us every day. >> reporter: this was ong ten years ago talking with our own jessica geary about his little sister betty, an american airlines stewardess on board the first plane to crash into the world trade center. it was betty who first told authorities we were under attack. >> we can't breathe. i think we're getting hijacked. >> reporter: betty's spirit runs through the halls of the betty ong chinese recr

. >> okay, my name is betty ong. i'm number three on flight 11. >> okay. >> and the cockpit is not answering their phones. and there's somebody in business class. somebody's got mace or something. >> can you explain. >> i'm sitting in the back. somebody's coming back from business. >> i don't know. >> i'm number one got stabbed. our purser is stabbed. nobody knows who stabbed here, and we can't even get up to business class right now, because nobody can breathe. >> can anybody get up to the cockpit? can anybody get up to the cockpit? we can't even get up to the cockpit. we don't know who's up there. >> chilling to hear her voice. she kept her cool despite the dire circumstances. she's still celebrated in chinatown where the recreation center there where she once played as a child is now named for betty ong. her older brother harry ong is so proud of her and her heroic as. the faa say the flight attendants, their first directive is safety, security in handling emergencies. >> they're not there just to serve pretzels a

sister betty ong. she was a flight attendant on american airlines flight eleven credited with being the first person to alert authorities to the deadly hijackings that took place september eleventh two thousand one i just have that. feeling that just wasn't there for her it's just really hard. to- to hear otherwise on says his sister's last words during a phone call to report the hijacking reflects her courage and poise. welcome to the club. and i think they've made that we can't create i don't know i think look at night. many remained on the phone for twenty three minutes providing critical information until the plane crashed into the world trade center the nine eleven commission declared her a national hero. i never wanted. anybody. can you get into the pocket we don't know they're her last words were pray for us twenty years has gone by. but i also have to say that it's been twenty years of anguish anguish that hasn't diminished on says for years after the attacks the father refused to give up hope

cornell: betty yong from -- betty ong another hero.light attendant on board american airlines flight 11. she was able to relay vital information about the hijackers to officials before the plane struck the world trade center. >> for 23 minutes, betty was on the phone, despite the gas, the mace, the horror, and the terror within the plane. cornell: heroes playing a role in history, their memory and courage never to be forgotten. cornell barnard, abc 7 news. dion: i spoke with ong's family this week and we will have her story coming up in the next half-hour. the san francisco rugby team honored their fallen teammate who was killed when flight 93 went down in pennsylvania. bingham, who was a gay man and a star rugby player at cal, created a rugby team, the first all gay rugby team on the west coast. in 2002, the bingham bingham b tournament was created as a way to honor the heroic actions mark took that day, and as a way to celebrate his contributions to the lgbt community. his former teammates spoke with us earlier today and explained th

one of those flight attendants was betty ann ong a san francisco woman who was believed to be the very first person to alert authorities about the hijacking. >> reporter harker vanguard talked with one of her closest friends who still host betty near and dear to her heart. >> an 11 to hear about better of contest was a better one to 7 my name to the american 11 111. and my routine. >> my routine. the flight 11. >> a flight attendant charlene jones put on this uniform to work flight 1100's of times and for more than 20 years she was based in boston flying coast to coast with her friends that are and amy sweeney. >> and betty and i already knew other from training. was ad eh class 87 party too. i was in class 87 body. 3 flew for 14 years. >> a person known for carrying her infectious smile down the aisle of any plane. she was working. she had a calm cool demeanor that shine on a day that our country fell into >> are it would apply to 11 the pilot. >> the moment terrorists took over the flight deck. many young picked up the air phone and dialed american airlines reservations. her call was

are the four of us- betty myself my parents she was the youngest of four in a tight knit family betty ongorn and raised in san francisco chinatown. she used to play here at the chinese recreation center in two thousand twelve the city renamed the center. in her honor. betty ann ong chinese recreation center. the penny and on this one of joy and perseverance community leader reverend norman fong a family friend led the effort to rename the center to honor the hometown hero strength in the face of adversity i love the baby and all the story in the hope that the kids and everybody appreciate that and those kids today who knows one of them could be. a hero a hero and for the future almost as their family had modest means betty wanted to help people and see the world being a flight attendant was her dream is very peaceful. the family has a niche at cypress filled with items betty loved i just remember her and i remember every day. and i think about her and what happened to her. and my thought would be we just never had a chance to say goodbye. the family forever changed on september eleventh t

the betty ong said her.ero through and through and she is she belongs to us line. the 9.11 attacks, of course, still weigh heavy on the minds of millions. but for some flight crew. they say the heroic actions taken by their co-workers that day do does give them purpose 20 years later. >> vanguard spoke with a retired flight attendant who says the voices from the sky that morning where her very best friends. >> american 11 to hear about center ring consequence are one of them. my name to the and my routine. >> my routine. the flight 11. >> flight attendant charlene jones put on this uniform to work flight 1100's of times and for more than 20 years she was based in boston flying coast to coast with her friends that are young and amy sweeney. >> and that in i already knew other from training. was ad. eh c'est 87 party, too. i was in class 87 body 3 betty ong flew for 14 years. >> a person known for carrying her infectious smile down the aisle of any plane. she was working. she had a calm cool demeanor that shin

are the four of us- betty myself my parents she was the youngest of four in a tight knit family betty ongraised in san francisco chinatown. she used to play here at the chinese recreation center in two thousand twelve the city renamed the center. in her honor. betty ann ong chinese recreation center. the penny and on this one of joy and perseverance community leader reverend norman fong a family friend led the effort to rename the center to honor the hometown hero strength in the face of adversity i love the baby and all the story in the hope that the kids and everybody appreciate that and those kids today who knows one of them could be. a hero or hero and for the future almost as their family had modest means betty wanted to help people and see the world being a flight attendant was her dream is very peaceful. the family has a niche at cypress filled with items betty loved i just remember her and i remember her every day. and i think about her and what happened to her. and my thought would be. we just never had a chance to say goodbye. the family forever changed on september eleventh two

are the four of us- betty myself my parents she was the youngest of four in a tight knit family betty ong was born and raised in san francisco chinatown. she used to play here at the chinese recreation center in two thousand twelve the city renamed the center. in her honor. betty ann ong chinese recreation center. the penny and on this one of joy and perseverance community leader reverend norman fong a family friend led the effort to rename the center to honor the hometown hero strength in the face of adversity i love the baby and all the story in the hope that the kids and everybody appreciate that and those kids today who knows one of them could be. a hero a hero and for the future almost as their family had modest means betty wanted to help people and see the world being a flight attendant was her dream is very peaceful. the family has a niche at cypress filled with items betty loved i just remember her and i remember her every day. and i think about her and what happened to her. and my thought would be. we just never had a chance to say goodbye. the family forever changed on september

locally, by this one who worked tirelessly to have this community center named after her and the betty ong foundation. it is where she grew up and yearned to leave. >> betty had an urge to travel, see the world. that is why she became a flight attendant. reporter: as they remember their betty, they hope her life can serve a purpose for all who remember 9/11. >> what i would like the world to know, especially in these times of divisiveness and hatred for each other by a lot of people, that the goodness of the september 11 aftermath is so positive. reporter: dion lim abc7 news. ama: more understanding, more humanity. i am so incredibly grateful to harry for opening up and sharing his memories of betty with us. he will be speaking at a ceremony tomorrow in san francisco's mission bay neighborhood. he said the 20 year anniversary has been stressful. he looks forward to taking time away soon. dan: so understandable. this brings back so many difficult memories. members of san francisco's zion church in vacaville writing letters of gratitude to military service members devoting their lives to pro

san francisco native betty ong, a flight attendant on american airlines flight 11, was among them. she is considered a national hero because she was the first to alert authorities about the hijackings. ong's brother spoke at today's ceremony in san francisco. i will never forget what happened on that day until the end of my life. >> he reminded everyone not to forget the families of victims who will forever be affected by the tragedy. as we have seen, 9/111 has impacted so many people in so many ways. to a gathering at a unique local memorial, the tragedy still compels so many to act. nbc bay area's sergio quintana continues our coverage. >> reporter: a fallen ceremony at the 9/11 memorial garden in napa includes leaders of christian, jewish, and muslim faith. this is by design. >> we welcome all of you here, whatever your faith is. whatever -- whether you have faith or no faith at all. >> reporter: this memorial has special significance. it's crafted out of steel beams that were pulled out of the collapsed world trade center towers. one of only a handful of tributes in the bay are

betty ong, a san francisco native among them. too is considered a national hero, a flight attendant on american airlines flight 93. >> i will never forget what happened on that day until the end of my life. >> reporter: her brother reminding everyone not to forget the families of victims and survivors. and like the chief, he pays respect to the victims who died in the months and years following the attacks. >> many more have been added to the total of those hurt, those injured, those who are sick, and those who are dying and those who have died. [ bell ringing ] >> reporter: and some san franciscans stand every year with the firefighters as they honor their sisters and brothers. >> it's heartbreaking, it really is. but they wouldn't have done anything else. >> reporter: susan moorhead has attended every 9/11 memorial at the mission district station 7 for 20 years. >> that's why you have to do things like this, just read their names, let their families know they're not forgotten. >> reporter: a native new yorker, she has friends a

ong is the brother of miss betty ong. >> clerk: i'm sorry. what line are you on, please? >> commissioner covington: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 11, 12, 13, 14. line 14 on page 2, where it says mr. ong is the brother of miss betty -- >> clerk: that's paragraph one. >> commissioner covington: okay. yes. paragraph one, 14 lines down. >> clerk: all right. >> commissioner covington: so betty, excuse me, b-e-t-t-y. and then also, i would like the meeting to reflect our discussion related to the drivers of muni stopping when directed. i also suggested -- that's on the last page, page 4. i also suggested that we send the video to sfgovtv so that as many citizens as possible should be aware of the fact when they're given direction by fire personnel to stop that they stop, and with those minor corrections, i would like to move this item. >> clerk: okay. i just have clarification. so you want me to add in that it should be put on sfgovtv? >> commissioner covington: i'm suggesting that the videotape regarding these issues. >> clerk: okay. and you want me

. >> reporter: her spirit goes through the betty ong recreation center, where he used to play. as renamed in her honor in 2012. >> it's a joy for us to have betty remembered. and hopefully by the kids who attend here. >> reporter: in a year that's been rocked by hate crimes against asian-americans, ong remembers the day when his little sister was working in the family's market and was held at gun point. >> they took out a gun and pointed at her. she says no. and drew the frustration, the perpetrators left. >> reporter: ong believes his sister would be horrified on the cases of unruly passengers taking their anger out on flight crews. >> they're not there to serve pretzels and beverages. they're the eyes in the sky outside of the cockpit. >> reporter: almost 20 years have passed since that fateful day. and you might ask yourself, where are we now? this is harry ong's answer. >> i hope that we can somehow have some resemblance of 9/11 days of love for each other, hugging and being patriotic, which is not happening today. amidst all of the divisiveness. >> i remember traveling with

remember the name betty ong, grew up in san francisco and was a flight attendant on that first flight that crashed into the world trade center that was american airlines flight 11. chinatown rec center was renamed for her back in 2012, but her brother harry feels that our collective memories are getting fainter about that fateful day. >> it's a joy for us to obviously have betty remembered and hopefully by the kids who attend here. >> ong says his biggest hope in the post-9/11 world is to end the divisiveness and try to feel the love for each other and our country we felt back on 9/11. >>> commemorations will take place across the bay area this weekend. a small service will be held at the flight 93 memorial in union city. flight 93 bound for sfo when it crashed in a pennsylvania field. tomorrow at the moment of silence at 10:03 the moment of the crash. the exchange club of san ramon valley will honor first responders and begins at 4:20 at the all wars memorial. 9:00 a.m. volunteers will gather for a beach cleanup at san francisco's baker beach. as we take a live look at the 9/11 memor

if you remember, harry ong is the brother of betty ong, a flight attendant on the first plane that was hijacked. she stayed on the phone for 25 minutes to relay information that resulted in the closing of air space by the f.a.a., so i look forward to seeing her brother and all of you on that day. and i am here for another five minutes, and happy to answer any questions within that time. thank you very much. >> president feinstein: all right. commissioners, questions for chief of the department? commissioner covington? >> commissioner covington: thank you. chief, can you give us a little more information about the discussions with human resources about the people who are not compliant? >> thank you, commissioner covington. i'm going to turn this to chief velo, as he has been deeply involved in these conversations. >> commissioner covington: okay. thank you. i know you have to go, so -- >> good morning. thank you, chief. good morning, president feinstein, vice president nakajo, commissioners, maureen. discussions with d.h.r. have been on multiple fronts. the first is conversations with n

. >> betty ong relayed in valuable information about the men who strong arm their way onto the flightt attendants, a flight attendant. amy sweeney also made calds and she relayed her information to flight service manager michael woodward in you know they were getting into >> nearly 3,000 people lost their life that day. 87 of those were on board flight. 11. >> they returned home. it not to not to families. everything changed after september 11th for charlene was what she held on to that gave her the strength for the last 20 years. >> it's her prime and the responsibility she carries a flight crew member every time she puts on she told herself do it for flight >> what we do. with the air a teen. that is what, if any, on. september 11. >> 25 flight attendants pilots lost on september 11. will forever be honored here at the world trade center memorial in lower manhattan. and as for flight 11 and they'll always be remembered as the voice from the sky, the very first to tell america it was under attack. and the world trade center memorial. i'm vanguard. back to you. >> and if you've never

if you remember, harry ong is the brother of betty ong, a flight attendant on the first plane that was hijacked. she stayed on the phone for 25 minutes to relay information that resulted in the closing of air space by the f.a.a., so i look forward to seeing her brother and all of you on that day. and i am here for another five minutes, and happy to answer any questions within that time. thank you very much. >> president feinstein: all right. commissioners, questions for chief of the department? commissioner covington? >> commissioner covington: thank you. chief, can you give us a little more information about the discussions with human resources about the people who are not compliant? >> thank you, commissioner covington. i'm going to turn this to chief velo, as he has been deeply involved in these conversations. >> commissioner covington: okay. thank you. i know you have to go, so -- >> good morning. thank you, chief. good morning, president feinstein, vice president nakajo, commissioners, maureen. discussions with d.h.r. have been on multiple fronts. the first is conversations with n

then at 8:19 a.m., betty ong contacts ground personnel. d per. at 8:46 a.m., flight 911 crashes into the world trade center. that crash killing everyone on board, severing emergency stairwells, trapping hundreds of people on the top floors of the tower. by this point, united airlines flight 175 also originating from boston had been hijacked. at 9:03 a.m. with 65 people on board, flight 175 hits the south tower of the world trade center. >> i've never seen anything like it. >> shortly after that second crash, president george w. bush is informed that america is under attack. at 9:37 a.m., american airlines flight 77 crashes into the pentagon. >> we are looking at live pictures of the pentagon where there is billowing smoke. >> reporter: the crash killing 58 passengers, including the hijackers, along with six crew members. 125 military and civilian personnel would also die in the crash and the fire that followed. back in new york at 9:59 a.m. after burning for nearly an hour, the south tower collapses. hundreds of first responders and civilians are

if you remember, harry ong is the brother of betty ong, a flight attendant on the first plane that wastes to relay information that resulted in the closing of air space by the f.a.a., so i look forward to seeing her brother and all of you on that day. and i am here for another five minutes, and happy to answer any questions within that time. thank you very much. >> president feinstein: all right. commissioners, questions for chief of the department? commissioner covington? >> commissioner covington: thank you. chief, can you give us a little more information about the discussions with human resources about the people who are not compliant? >> thank you, commissioner covington. i'm going to turn this to chief velo, as he has been deeply involved in these conversations. >> commissioner covington: okay. thank you. i know you have to go, so -- >> good morning. thank you, chief. good morning, president feinstein, vice president nakajo, commissioners, maureen. discussions with d.h.r. have been on multiple fronts. the first is conversations with noncompliant workers, and we sit down with them

sean gordon corbett o'neill betty ann ong michael c. opperman christopher t. margaret quinn orloske virginia anne ormiston ruben s. ornedo kevin m. o'rourke ronald orsini peter keith ortale juan ortega-campos jane marie orth alexander ortiz david ortiz emilio pete ortiz pablo ortiz and my uncle. god bless you and god bless america. >> and my brother firefighter michael lynch. we know what you were doing on that day and your boys are doing dutifully. jack was six months old and michael was three years old when you were murdered. all we do now is tell them about your past glory days. [applause] ♪ paul ortiz, jr. sonia ortiz masaru ose patrick j. o'shea robert william o'shea timothy franklin o'sullivan elsy carolina osorio oliva james r. ostrowski jason douglas oswald michael john otten isidro d. ottenwalder michael chung ou todd joseph ouida jesus ovalles peter j. owens, jr. adianes oyola angel m. pabon, jr. israel pabon, jr. roland pacheco michael benjamin packer diana b. padro deepa pakkala jeffrey matthew palazzo thomas palazzo richard a. palazzolo orio josep

. >> betty ann ong >> michael c. opperman >> christopher t.virginia anne ormiston >> ruben s. ornedo >> kevin m o'rourke. >> ronald orsini >> peter keith ortale >> juan ortega-campos >> jane marie orth >> alexander ortiz >> david ortiz >> emilio pete ortiz >> pablo ortiz >> and my uncle, matthew j burke. your memory and legacy are forever preserved through family and friends. god bless you and god bless america. >> at my brother, michael francis lentz. we know what you were doing on that day, and your boys are doing beautifully. we are so proud. jack was six months old and michael was three years old when you were murdered. all we do now is tell them about your past glory days. >> paul ortiz, jr. >> sonia ortiz >> masaru ose >> robert william o'shea. >> elsy carolina osorio oliva >> james r. ostrowski >> timothy franklin o'sullivan. >> jason douglas oswald >> michael john otten >> isidro d. ottenwalder >> michael chung ou >> todd joseph ouida >> jesus ovalles >> peter j. owens, jr. >> adianes oyola >> angel m. pabon, jr. >> israel pabon, jr. >