[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       A TRIBUTE TO BETTY ANN ONG

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2001

  Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the late Betty Ann Ong, the sister of my constituent and friend Cathie 
Ann Ong-Herrera. Betty was a woman of remarkable courage who was one of 
the many to die in the act of war perpetrated on our country on 
September 11, 2001.
  Betty Ann Ong was born in San Francisco on February 5, 1956 to Harry 
Ong, Sr. and Yee Gam Oy Ong. Betty was the youngest of four siblings, 
Harry Ong, Jr., Cathie Ann Ong-Herrera, and Gloria Ann Ong-Woo. Betty 
grew up in San Francisco's Chinatown where she attended Jean Parker 
Elementary School, Francisco Middle School, Washington High School, and 
the City College of San Francisco. She excelled in volleyball and 
bowling. Later in life, Betty also loved to travel, collect antiques 
and carousels, and had an extensive collection of stuffed animals and 
dolls.
  Betty began her career in the airline industry as a baggage handler 
and a ticket reservations agent with PSA and Delta Airlines. In 1998, 
Betty joined American Airlines as a flight attendant and later became a 
flight attendant purser. Betty loved her job and the people she worked 
with, and she was voted Flight Attendant of the Year five time by her 
peers.
  Betty's colleagues always described her as a very loving, caring, and 
always friendly person, both to her co-workers and to the passengers 
she served. Betty received numerous written compliments from her 
passengers.
  On that tragic date of September 11, Betty was serving as a flight 
attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. As 
terrorist hijackers took over the plane, Betty and her colleagues 
calmly reported to the ground grew vital information about what was 
taking place. She identified some of the hijackers' seat locations, 
which helped investigators later identify the individuals responsible, 
and asked the ground crew to pray for the passengers aboard. Under 
over-whelming circumstances, Betty's primary concern was the safety of 
her passengers.
  Up until the moment her life was tragically taken, Betty Ann Ong was 
a true professional who performed beyond her call of duty. Betty Ann 
Ong acted heroically under trying circumstances, and her heroism should 
be a sterling example of service to us all. Mr. Speaker, I ask my 
colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Betty Ann Ong, 
celebrating her heroic legacy, and wishing her family peace for their 
loss.

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