Creating a memorial to the hero's and victims of the Flight 93 crash, part of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, is, to us, unimaginably difficult. How to interpret the horrible events without turning people off or traumatizing them. How to honor the memory of the victims without unduly invading the privacy of the families.
The designers of this memorial have succeeded with an informative, sensitive and thought provoking tribute.
A six foot wide black stone path leads from the parking lot to the Visitor Center on a hill overlooking the crash site. We later learn this is aligned with the flight path of the aircraft during its final plunge.
The Visitor Center portrays the events of 9/11 with videos, artifacts and multi media displays. After setting the scene, describing the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, the exhibits focuses on Flight 93.
After the hijackers took control of the plane, many of the passengers and crew used the onboard AirPhone system to call loved ones as they plotted a counterattack to prevent the plane from causing a greater tragedy on the ground. We now know the plane was headed for the Capitol building.
Many of these calls went to voicemail and were therefore recorded. We got to listen to some of these calls when people said their final good byes and " I love you"s. Not included but widely reported was Todd Beamer's "Let's Roll", signaling the start of the rush to the cockpit.
Further down the hill, the black flight path continues along a wall of heroes with names of the 40 passengers and crew.
In the field beyond the wall, this 17 ton sandstone block marks the impact site.
The hero's of Flight 93 prevented further carnage, only 20 minutes from Washington DC. Very sobering and worth a visit if you are in the area,
Love,
Sandy & Carl
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