Doug Lane

Tonight we join Olympians, coaches, and family members to honor the 28 lost and the legacy we build moving forward. Join us tonight at @chathamorpheum with conversation hosted by @flamebearers Founder @jamiemittelman .

Attention figure skating community! The Families of Flight 5342 need your help. Please make a short video (30s or less) that says: - What state you’re from, - Who you lost or who the tragedy affected you, - “I stand with the Families of Flight 5342 as they demand an ADS-B In mandate and fewer safety loopholes for military aircraft.” - Tag your congress representatives (if you don’t know who they are, you can find them at house.gov) - Tag 3 or more skater friends, coaches, or other members of the figure skating community to repeat the above steps, - Tag @familiesofflight5342 so they can amplify your voice, - For extra credit add an eye-catching skating move to your video! And post it on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and/or Twitter/X! #aa5342 #saferskiesforall #figureskating #flight5342 #aviation

Twelve years ago today my family became whole! I’m so proud of the young man Milo has become. His mental, emotional, and physical strength are all unmatched. Happy Milo Day! 🧡

It can’t be a coincidence that the Washington Wizards are undefeated on nights when they wear Families of Flight 5342 shirts, right? A heartfelt thank you to Anthony and Jenna Gill, the Washington Wizards, and Monumental Sports for all of your support over the last year. Search for “Families of Flight 5342” on Bonfire.com to order your own shirt. All proceeds go to the DC Fire and EMS Foundation.

The last year has been both the longest of my life and the blink of an eye. I still feel your presence and reassurance every day. Your energy is still here. The love you both put out into the world is reflected back on Milo and me every day by all of the people you touched during your time on earth. This shouldn’t have happened. It’s not fair that it happened. But Milo and I, the others who loved you, and the loved ones of all of the other extraordinary people who were with you on Flight 5342 will work to bring whatever good that can come from this into the world. Spencer: I watched in my mind’s eye as you earned your Team USA jacket at Cranberry Cup International and landed your first quad jump. I didn’t need to imagine you achieving your goal of competing at Junior Nationals this year because you were there on Patrick’s shoulders and in his heart. Christine: I’m so proud of the amazing things we accomplished together on our journey and the family we created. I hate how it happened, but I love that the world is getting to see what an extraordinarily talented, creative, and compassionate person you were. And I know how proud you are of the young man that Milo has become and the resilience he has shown over the last year. I love you both.

A brief escape to 2016.

🚨🚨🚨Please call the office of Majority Leader John Thune at (202) 224-2321 and leave a message requesting that Section 373 be removed from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 🚨🚨🚨#saferskiesforall

I was so thrilled to see @patrickblackwell_ take silver at the Junior Grand Prix Bangkok. I’m so in awe of these young people who are competing on an international stage at such a high level while carrying grief. I’m also incredibly grateful to Patrick, @annehgoldbergbaldwin and @annette.n.blackwell for bringing some pieces of Spencer into this season that he is not here to enjoy. The skating season has been hard, but today I can picture him smiling, which makes me smile. #jgpbangkok

“Spencer skates (part 3),” a new email newsletter post, is now live at douglane.com. TL;DR: Spencer makes the jump to the @skatingclubbos and begins training with @team.genia.vadim .

New email newsletter post live: Always Champions. TL;DR: My sister @that.amanda.lane and I are skating a 5K to raise money for The Skating Club of Boston’s Always Champions campaign, which will fund a permanent memorial and scholarships honoring the members of the club community we lost on Flight 5342. Read more and donate at douglane.com.

Spencer skates (part 2), a long overdue update to my email newsletter, is now live at douglane.com.

Lake Placid this past weekend was emotional, stirring up memories of those we lost on American Eagle Flight 5342. I met @dlane , @modernlittleme , spencerskates26, and @team.genia.vadim in Lake Placid a year ago. @annehgoldbergbaldwin told me how talented Spencer was, and was excited for me to meet everyone. Christine was a fellow artist, Doug, a devoted father who would do anything for his children, and Vadim and Genia, Anne’s mentors and now partners. I heard stories about how talented Spencer was and how much fun he was to work with. I saw more when I met Spencer immediately after his free skate and in his first words to coach Anne. I got to know a love - a spirit - a sass - which embodied his character and made Spencer successful as a skater but also as a human. Spencer did his free skate; his incredible talent and potential were immediately evident, showcased by his technical prowess. As a fellow ADHDer, Spencer focused so hard on the most complicated moments that he lost some in the lesser moments of his program in... what Anne lovingly called a “series of oopsies.” I could see the expression on Spencer’s face, “How is that the part that went wrong?” Losing balance in the final pose, he stood up, looking like he was trying not to laugh - I looked down at the boards, and Vadim and Anne were laughing right along with him. Everyone knew how funny it was, watching him lose balance simply dropping to one knee after jumping with such ease. Standing afterward with everyone, Spencer ran up to Doug, and his first words were, “Did you film it? Can I have it to make a fail reel for Instagram?” That confidence, humor, and lightheartedness are hard to feel comfortable with at any stage, let alone at 15 years old and growing in national popularity. At that moment, I saw what made Spencer special - as a skater and an ambassador of sportsmanship, character, and love. In honor of Spencer and this moment’s impact on me, I put together that fail video from his free skate in Lake Placid, 2024. Spencer, Christine, Vadim, and Genia, you are all missed, and the impact you’ve had on our lives will continue to live on. #aa5342 #spencerlane #FigureSkating