Pennsylvania: Flight 93 Memorial

  The Memorial Visit

I remember September 11, 2001 well.

The Plane Immediately Burst Into Flames On Impact

While I was on that day in NJ, about 40 Miles away from Manhattan, I do remember the attack on the United States vividly. It came as a shock to me, I was totally unprepared for what I witnessed.

What I don’t remember well are the 2 other attacks, the bungled one at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the failed attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. where the house was in full session at the time.

It was an evil plan, premeditated and brutal. While the NYC plan came to fruition, the Pentagon attack was only somewhat successful. The Capitol attack however, failed totally.

I heard about the farmer’s field where the Capitol attack came to a crashing halt. I heard about the people on board the now infamous flight 93 but I wanted to always give them a silent ‘thank you’ for sacrificing their lives for us.

Crater, 40 Feet Deep, Made When the Plane Crashed

There were 40 good people on board flight 93. Plus the 4 terrorists who stole the operation of the plane, blatant piracy, at some point. The news on the cell phones of the crew and passengers on board the doomed flight told them that they were now part of an organized attack on the U.S. They had to ask themselves what is there to do?   It was certainly a shocking revelation to be in the midst of an organized attack on the U.S. I can not even imagine the horror the 40 people must have felt.

I am sure it was not an easy decision these good people made to fight the terrorists. Using the plane they were in against the hijackers was their only option. All crew and passengers on board did the only correct thing. They KNEW they were going to die anyway, but by fighting the terrorists, they saved countless lives on the ground and dealt the murderers a situation that those thugs, ultimately could not handle. It was a smart move from the crew and passenger's point of view. Naturally it developed out of desperation but in hindsight, we all know now it was the right thing to do.

The U.S. Government, in the middle of the fields, away from any town, literally in nowhere land, in a field, established a Memorial to the brave people on flight 93 that stopped the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Here, at exactly the spot where flight 93 ultimately crashed, a memorial was built. A bolder was placed over the filled in impact crater as a reminder to all of us. Time will not erode this spot. We will never forget. In years to come it will not be easy to remove the exact location of the people's sacrifice from our consciousness. Here is the spot where Americans and other Nations fought evil and lost their lives doing it, but in doing so saved many other lives. This spot is a moving experience. Rage still built up inside of me when I visited.

What a lot of people do not understand is that the spirit of an American is awesome. They would rather die than give in to demands from others. In a pinch they do give up their own lives to save others. Collateral damages are accepted. ‘Don’t tread on me’ is the motto of an U.S. Marine.

17-Ton Sandstone Boulder Marks the Approximate Site
of Impact

While the vile attack on the U.S. did surprise many, including me, I can say I am proud to be an American and part of this prevailing spirit of Americans. The news, even today, paints a picture of disharmony among the inhabitants of the U.S. but when the USA gets attacked?  Watch out, our response is deadly. As it should be!  I am sure a retaliation today would even be more devastating than what was done in the past. Al-Qaeda and the people who harbored them can call themselves lucky that the U.S. acted restrained.  Personally I would not have been so nice. There would be no Afghanistan today had I been in charge. Do I sound harsh? Certainly! But I would have been very effective, too. Collateral Damage goes both ways.

Largest Piece of Wreckage Found

If religion to some people means destroying others, then they must pray to the wrong God. They certainly are not ‘religious’. They are nothing but misguided murderers, living in a dream world of their own.

If hate overshadows common decency and mature acceptance of differences, then you are not fit to be called a human being. You are worse than even a vicious animal. Compassion would be nice but I don’t have it all the time. I guess I need to learn that part of being on Earth.

Each Marble Stone Has the Name of One of the Passengers
or Crew

I am in awe, and always have been, of the people on flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Thank you for giving your life to save ours.

Rest In Peace and Thank You