In writing this blog, I have had some great experiences. As I have mentioned before, I have had the chance to make friends throughout the world. Between the blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, the ability to connect with almost anyone in the world really is incredible. And yesterday, I experienced something new.
Back on March 17, 2011, I wrote about Eastern Airlines Flight 1320. The story of 1320 is one of a hijacking and extraordinary heroism. The flight crew, Captain Robert Wilbur Jr. and First Officer James Hartley, saved 68 passengers who were on the manifest that evening of St. Patrick’s Day, 1970.
Now, all these years later, I have had the privilege of allowing passengers and the children of the pilots to connect and speak about their loved ones.
Looking back over time, I would never have guessed this would become a part of this blog. I am very happy that the blog was a vehicle for all of this to occur. In 1929, Frigyes Karinthy, a Hungarian writer, poet, and journalist, came up with the concept of six degrees of separation. The phrase became a part of our lexicon when the John Guare wrote a play of the same name in 1990.
As I ponder the connections of the universe, I can see clearly that we are all linked together to some degree. How else can a story about a hijacking, passengers, and relatives come together over something called the Internet 46 years after the event happened.
As technology advances, I have a feeling we will eventually discover most of the secrets of the universe. If you have not had the chance to read about the hijacking and miraculous landing of Flight 1320, I encourage you to do so. What makes for very interesting reading in the account of Eastern Airlines Flight 1320 are the comments that follow the original post.
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©2016 J. Clark
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I hope you are ok with me posting this. I started a facebook page as a way to hopefully find friends of Grandpa Jim’s that can share stories & photos. The stories tend to get scattered across the many pages that post about the highjacking. It’s depressing that the stories I find are usually just about his death. I would love to find out more about his life.
http://www.facebook.com/JamesHartleyEasternPilot/
If anybody has anything to share about him that would be wonderful. I started a group & a page on facebook. You should be able to search @JamesHartleyEasternPilot or Remembering James Hartley Jr., Eastern Airline Pilot
Thank you for bringing us together on your blog Joe!
Dani, of course, I am okay with the Facebook page and I will go to it and like it so that it is on my page, too. I agree with you – wish there was more information about his life. He sounds like a very interesting and wonderful man. If there is anything I can do further to help the connections, please let me know.
Joe