Thread by @bsw5020

Like all good stories, this takes a bit of time to tell but I promise you, it is worth it.

Today I found myself on a plane again. Only this time I was flying to DC to see Steve Gleason be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This Medal is a huge f’ing deal.

Why?

Steve is only the 160th person ever to receive this medal. Mother Theresa received it. Pope John Paul. And now Steve.

The enormity of this moment, that a guy with ALS—a guy I know—is receiving one of highest awards humanity created hit me as I waited for my ride to the airport.

As I sat there I began to formulate a plan: I would get the pilots on the flight to DC to talk about Steve and ALS on the intercom mid-flight.

I had no idea how I would make this happen, but I was confident enough in my nascent plan that I wrote out what I wanted them to read.

When I got to the airport I went right to the gate and walked up to the person that looked like our pilot (i.e., dude was standing by the gate with a pilots cap and bag). I tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a minute of his time. To my surprise he said yes.

I explained to him who I was, who Steve is and why I was flying to DC. Then I made the ask, showing him the words I wanted him to read. He listened patiently and then said, “I would love to read this, but I’m not the lead pilot. Only he can make the call.

He will be back soon and I’ll introduce y’all.”

True to his word 20 minutes later he introduced me to the lead pilot. I repeated the full story and made the ask again, handing my phone on which the words were written.

I watched him read it, take it in and then look up at me.

“I would love to read this,” he said. “I just need to call up the chain to make sure its not against company policy.” He asked what seat I was in, and I told him. He said he would come back and find me as soon as he had an answer.

As the boarding process wound down he made his way back and said, “I’m so sorry I was told I can’t read that over the intercom.”

I told him I understood, thanked him for trying and settled in for the flight.

The announcements started soon thereafter. As they went on the most F’ING amazing thing happened (trust me, you want the sound on for this)

Guess who was seated in seat 12A?????

And guess what shirt he was wearing:

So to you, Lead Pilot, and to the incredible @united stewardesses who came back to say, “you are amazing,” this is for you:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your acts today mean sooooo much more than you could ever know.

Also, to those who want to know what I wrote, here it is:

“On Wednesday at 3 pm in the Capital, Steve Gleason, a former NFL star, will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Steve will become the 160th person to win this award. Others include Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul.

In 2011, Steve was diagnosed with ALS-a terminal disease

Steve was told to go home and get ready to die. Instead he decided to fight and to change the world.

One of our passengers today, Brian Wallach, is flying to DC to see this historic moment. Brian is also living with ALS and you will notice him by the I AM ALS shirt he’s wearing

He was diagnosed in 2017 and founded I AM ALS to help make real a cure for ALS.

We take a moment today to salute their courage, and the courage of all those fighting ALS and other terminal diseases.

Here's to building a better future together.