9/11

We remember where we were, what we were doing, the feelings, the shock, horror, pride of country. It’s a part of history that we know. 9/11/01

Flight 93 National Memorial, in Stoystown, PA.

Flight 93 crash site is really hilly. I knew it was an old mine that had been covered up, from reading some great books. We stopped and took our picture at the entrance and then drove a mile more to the visitor center. 

There is this really long black colored path that walks you through some very tall concrete walls. Kevin overheard a ranger telling some school children that this is so that you look up into the sky. The path is the flight path of the plane. We went inside the visitor center; I knew from my research that photography was not allowed inside. After you pass the store and ranger desk, you come upon displays from floor to ceiling, along walls. There are about 5 walls with things to see on both sides. They tell the story chronologically, you can step back and see the whole wall but get close to see details. Kevin said everyone was very quiet and respectful here. Even school children were quiet. Good kids and teachers. 

Kevin commented to me outside that he was overwhelmed by the thought that these people knew for a little over 30 minutes that they were going to die in a plane crash. Just pondering that is so awful. The thing that was reinforced to me, here and after reading the book, is that the passengers didn’t get control of the plane but they did try and the terrorist actually talked to each other and decided to “put the plane down now.” They probably were afraid the passengers might get control of the plane and their plans would be ruined. Things found at the crash site provided invaluable information – the only black box and recorder found out of the 4 planes, the terrorist pilot credit card (follow the money helped investigators immensely), and even the papers that were the terrorist check list leading up to and including that day. 

At the end of the black walkway that follows the flight path, there is a glass short wall that overlooks the crash site and debris field. On the glass are the words, “A common field one day. A field of honor forever.”

We followed the walking path that had a stop over sort of a ledge. This is where the families of the passengers first saw the crash site. This being an old mining site, there was a worker’s building here.

While standing there, looking at the wall that has the names of the good people, a plane contrail shooting right across the sky caught my eye. My thought was this: Guess what terrorist? We Americans are not stopped! You didn’t break us, you made us stronger. That was so overwhelming and powerful to me.

Then we continued on down to the wall and saw the names of each of the good people. I see “unborn child” listed with the mother. 9/11/24 just a few days ago, there were lots of flags, flowers, gifts, pictures, and such along the wall. I am not sure if they are there all the time or just recently. The school children were pretty quiet and respectful. Kevin heard a teacher tell the class that each name was someone who died and to think about it. I soon saw the children taking pictures of each name as the walked down the wall; I thought that was a great way for them to see and remember the names, each a person who shouldn’t have died this way. 

Continuing on we get closer to the 17-ton piece of sandstone that is a visual reference for the crash site. There is a wreath on a stand in front of it. We can’t even imagine being on a plane that is turned upside down, angled at a 40/45° angle going around 500 mph. We just stood there, looking around at the stone, the trees, the debris field. The hemlocks behind seem to stand guard on the back sides of this monument.

The good passengers fought to gain control of the plane, the terrorists decided to put the plane down here. Even though the good people didn’t get control of the plane, they made a difference, as this plane is thought to have been heading for the U.S. Capitol, which was in session. The good people knew fighting back was their only way. This wouldn’t have happened if the plane took off at the scheduled time. But since the airport was busy and flight was delayed, it allowed the good people to contact loved ones after it was hijacked in the air and they learned what was happening.

We continued the walk, seeing the Pavillon with fresh flowers and reading some signs. I took pictures of these; they had a lot of the information from inside. We continued walking the circle up and along the hemlock trees. As we left, my text to my sister said this about our visit:  Heartbreaking, maddening, inspiring, patriotism are words that come to my mind. 

Kevin told me that he felt Flight 93 National Memorial touched him and meant more to him than all we saw in Washington, D.C. I couldn’t agree more.