This year - the tenth anniversary of 9/11, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be here in New York City. After hearing that the NYC 9/11 Memorial would not be open to the public until Monday, I thought again about visiting Shanksville, to attend the dedication of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Although I had only resided in Pennsylvania since April of 2001, I felt a strong connection to the plane that was wrested from the control of the terrorists in it's final moments of flight. A plane that was only 18 minutes from Washington D.C. when the passengers stormed the cockpit in a valiant attempt to stop yet another plane from reaching the target(s) - the Capitol Building - the White House?
Please join me for a re-counting of my two days in Shanksville. Please note that he video was edited quickly - please forgive the quality.
My wife was kind enough to allow me to get a room to stay overnight. All the hotels closest to Shanksville were booked, so she found me a room in Bedford, PA - about 23 twisty and hilly miles from Shanksville, along what was once called the Lincoln Highway - route 30.
Although I had earlier planned to attend the Dedication Ceremonies on Saturday, I got home so late on Friday night that I decided to leave later, and at least see the memorial a bit before the ceremonies on Sunday. Saturday the memorial was actually open to the public - on Sunday - it would only be open to the families of the Flight 93 passengers and crew - and then after the President and the First Lady met with the family members along the wall of names - it would be open for the public
I was not aware that President and Mrs. Obama would be attending on Sunday until I heard someone mention this on Sunday.
I did not film the speeches by Governors Corbett and Ridge. I felt it was not proper to use my video camera during the ceremonies.
After the speeches were over, and the reading of the names of the 40 passengers and crew was done - after each name was read, two silver bells were rung. The larger bell was rung first - producing a low tone - just as the sound faded, the smaller bell was rung - producing what seemed to be an octave higher tone.
I am not sure what is the significance of the two bells - in my own mind, I thought that one bell stood for the birth of the person, and the second for their passing.
I was on the other side of the memorial - when the President's helicopter landed, I was not sure if he would walk to the other side of the field - he did not - choosing, and rightly so I thought - to spend an hour with the families.
By the time I got to the wall of names, President Obama and Mrs. Obama were far away. You can see them if you don't get a headache with my shaky video.
As they left to leave - walking out to the field where Flight 93 came to rest, I started to leave as well. While looking at some of the momentos people on the wall leading up to the wall of names, I heard people say "there they are - over there - in the field!"
I looked up to see the President and Mrs. Obama walking slowly - looking out at the field where 40 ordinary Americans did something extraordinary.
By the way - the National Parks Service did an amazing job - handing out water, providing information and assisting people throughout the day to get on the shuttle buses. They did themselves proud. This memorial should be on your list of places to go, if you have the chance. Go.
I am heading home now - and so will not be able to reply until I get home.