Madeline Amy Sweeney is credited with calling in critical information about the attack when her plane was hijacked on September 11, 2001
The bravery of flight attendant Madeline Amy Sweeney on September 11, 2011 has led to a moving award given to a civilian who has acted bravely to help others.
Sweeney was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, which took off at Logan Airport. The plane was hijacked and deliberately crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Sweeney is credited with calling in critical information about the attack to crews on the ground.
Before the ceremony, that Sweeney's daughter spoke during, a flag lowering ceremony took place outside of the Massachusetts State House.
"I hear countless stories of how funny she was, how she cared about everyone, and how amazing she was to us all," said Anna Sweeney. "The story I remember most is the one of her heroic actions on her last day with us. It is the one that is so symbolic of inner strength and courage and one that makes me so incredibly proud to call myself her daughter."
Michael DeSousa of Fall River, Massachusetts, was honored with the award at the Massachusetts Statehouse on Thursday. DeSousa was given the award for rescuing the tenants of two separate buildings during a fire in 2013.
Boston Marathon bombings hero Carlos Arredondo was honored with the award last year.
