It was a solemn morning at the Flight 93 National Memorial where 40 victims were honored for their valor and heroism.
Monday marked 22 years since the passengers and crew members thwarted an attack on our nation’s capital, instead crashing into a field in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County.
The memory of Flight 93 still very much alive. Friends and family gathering around to remember the forty lives tragically lost in one of America’s deadliest terrorist attacks.
The ceremony began Monday morning at 9:45, about 15 minutes before Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County– with remarks from the park’s superintendent Steven Clark who delivered a powerful quote from former president George Bush.
“For generations people will study the story of Flight 93 and they will learn that individual choices will make a difference, that love and sacrifice can triumph over evil and hate, and that what happened above this Pennsylvania field ranks among the most courageous acts in American history.”
And those courageous passengers, and the flight crew, were remembered with the reading of their names and the ringing of the ceremonial bells.
Some friends and family members were in attendance Monday morning to read the names of loved ones they’ve lost.
Something new this year was a private wreath laying ceremony for family and friends of the passengers and crew which was immediately followed by the reading of the names.
“It allows visitors that are coming to the site to participate not just in the morning observance ceremony but also in a wreath laying ceremony in the afternoon.”
It wasn’t just park officials, friends and families at the ceremony, as there were also members of the Association of Flight Attendants, who came together and unionized.
“We have made a commitment to never forget which is why we are here at the Flight 93 National Memorial and why we attend memorials all across our nation to stand shoulder to shoulder in remembrance of our sisters, brothers, union siblings and the heroes of 9/11 who we lost.”
The association has representatives who travel to memorials all across the county to keep the commitment of storytelling alive, and to share this with the next generation.
“We will not allow their memories to be shrouded in hate, we will come together and shine light in the darkness and bring everyone together for goodness, hope, peace and a stronger future.”
And after today, preparations for next year’s remembrance ceremony begin.
“So, we start on September 12th to start planning for the next year with all the videos that we’ve recorded to air for schools, we started recording them almost immediately and to hit the ground running; we plan everything so that every detail is perfect for the next year.”