During our recent trip north, we found ourself in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Since we were driving through small towns and back roads, we were able to see a lot of the area that we would have otherwise missed. Without realizing where we were, we suddenly found ourselves a few miles away the crash site of Flight 93 that went down on September 11th.
Having visited the memorial at the Pentagon, we knew what a special place these sites are and we wanted to play our respects while we were in the area. So we followed the signs out of town and soon found ourselves in the middle of rolling fields full of lush, green grass. A few miles later, we knew we had found the place.
Until the permanent memorial is built in 2011, this temporary memorial stands. It is a reminder of what happened that fateful day when terrorists overtook the plane with the intent of attacking the Nation’s Capitol. Instead of letting that happen, the people on board Flight 93 struggled to take back the plane. As a result, it crashed onto this empty field. Their actions that day probably saved hundreds if not thousands of people. One of the lives they saved might have been the CPA’s. He was working in one of the Senate office buildings on 9-11, and who knows how many workers in or near the Capitol were saved by their selfless actions. The passengers and crew of Flight 93 are truly heroes and this memorial is dedicated to them.
It is staffed by National Park Service volunteers who are there to answer questions to the more than 150,000 visitors each year.
The memorial includes a 4o foot chain link fence (to represent the 40 people who were onboard) where visitors can leave personal items.
These items include hats,
clothing,
hand-written signs,
artwork,
license plates, and flags,
All of these items have been personalized to honor the fallen victims. They are being collected and stored by the National Park Service and will most likely be used when the permanent memorial is built.
In addition to the chain link fence, various plaques and statues have been placed around the small courtyard. Statues like this one that are adorned with rosary beads.
Or plaques such as this one submitted by the 9/11 Ride Foundation. 
Or this one which immortalizes the words spoken that day by the passengers as they went into action.
Facing the crash site, rows of benches have the names of each of the passengers and crew written in bold lettering.
There is also a row of wooden angels representing each of the heroes.
Some have rosary beads adorning them,
others have pictures.
Behind them, you can look into the distance and see the place where the plane actually went down.
A flag is there now, alone in the empty field.
It marks the crash site which is 500 yards away from the memorial and is surrounded by a fence. It is closed to the public and only family members of the victims are allowed to visit.
But the memorial is open to the public, who can visit 365 days a year. It is a lovely tribute to those courageous people who were aboard Flight 93. And it is a powerful reminder to the rest of us to never forget their sacrifice.
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