Flight 5342
UPDATE on 02/01/2025: Donations to help relieve those impacted by the tragedy in Flight 5342 can be made through the Wichita Foundation’s initiative, ICT-Together, by clicking the button below.
ORIGINAL POST from 01/30/2025
As I took my short drive to work through the dense morning fog, I wrestled with the emotion one accumulates in the hours following a tragedy so close to home. I took one last look at my social feed before headed to bed, approximately three minutes after American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac River. Instantly, I was alarmed and unsettled, as I can imagine many of you were. Instantly I am concerned for people I may know on that plane, their families, their friends. For the servicemen or women flying on the helicopter. Everyone. It’s shocking, no matter how prepared you may be. But it hits very close to home knowing the flight’s origin. We all know people who take this flight on a regular basis. My wife took this flight just last year.
When a tragedy strikes, we naturally need to talk. We have lots of thoughts and emotions to process. For many that are directly or indirectly affected by events such as this, there can be an instinct to isolate and remain unheard. Processing grief and trauma for the loss of our family, our friends, our neighbors, our communities…it’s an important part of the healing process. Talking to someone, anyone, can help us grieve, find comfort, gain perspective, and unite.
From my perspective, the most important role communities play in the wake of a tragedy is in how we provide support to those affected. By seeking those who need help, we can serve a greater purpose. In times like these, when unimaginable losses occur, sometimes the only thing you can do to help someone is simply being right there, ready to listen, and prepared to talk. I believe this is the purpose of a community.
When we reflect on our stated purpose at Reverie, “to precipitate positivity in our communities”, I am reminded of what we have defined as “our communities”. Our employees, our customers, our neighborhood, our nearby schools, our suppliers and allied partners, our Wichita, and beyond. Community exists everywhere; it’s all around us. You just have to put yourself there. This is where the work is done. This is where the healing happens.
Coffee shops have been thought to be a community for you outside of your home and workplace. And I believe the reason coffee shops exist is to serve the greater needs of the communities it serves. There are over twenty local coffee shops in our community you can visit just about every day. And I suspect if you were sitting in one, right now, by yourself, you could turn to your left or right and start a conversation with someone about yesterday’s events to help process this information for yourself, or to help another person in need.
The thing about isolation is that one doesn’t have to be hidden to feel alone. Start the conversation. Be proactive in finding ways to help our community. A simple conversation can create a tidal wave of encouragement and healing.
To all the families and friends who went to sleep last night knowing someone very important to them is no longer coming home, we grieve for you and the 64 souls who have descended into their afterlife. This is a tremendous weight that cannot easily be lifted with simple words.
We know you. We see you. And we are here to support you.
We open our doors to anyone wanting to share in our community. This is what all coffee shops do so well. We hope you can help our community begin to heal.
In solidarity,
Andrew Gough
Reverie Coffee Roasters