On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a Southern California family received a poignant reminder of love and loss when a handwritten note written by Dora Menchaca was recovered from a microwave that survived the crash of American Airlines Flight 77.
How the note was found
Dora Menchaca, a 45‑year‑old mother of two, was aboard Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, bound for Los Angeles International Airport from Washington Dulles. After the plane was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, investigators recovered a small microwave from the wreckage. Inside, they discovered several personal items that had been placed there by passengers, including Menchaca’s note.
John Menchaca, Dora’s brother, recounted the moment he learned of his sister’s death. “I get to the office, my office in downtown LA and my phone rings. It’s my father, and he said, ‘Dora was on one of the planes,’” he said.
John’s son‑in‑law, Earl, later received a visit from FBI agents at his home. The agents were able to retrieve the microwave and the belongings inside. “Apparently, several of the passengers had accumulated their belongings and put them in the microwave. And, when the plane crashed, somehow this microwave survived, and several passengers had their belongings in that microwave,” Menchaca explained.
The note’s message
The note, written on a page from a Marriott hotel notepad, reads: “Dear Earl. I love you. Please take care of Imani and Jaryd for me.” It bears Dora’s signature and the date 9/11/01. The words, brief yet heartfelt, have become a source of comfort for her surviving family members.
Family remembrance
John Menchaca attended a remembrance ceremony in San Gabriel on Friday, joining others across Southern California and the nation in a day of mourning. “My wife and I have made a point of every year remembering my sister,” he said. “I think as a country, regardless of what’s going on, we need to take this day and come together as best we can.”
The discovery of the note underscores the personal toll of the attacks and the enduring strength of family bonds. While the nation reflects on the broader impact of September 11, stories like the Menchaca family’s remind readers that individual lives and love stories are woven into the fabric of that historic day.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
