Remembering Flight 93

The overcast sky and intermittent drizzle set the pensive mood for our busload of passengers. We were on a recent day trip to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Our collective, somber conduct reflected the apprehension and discovery of a tragic, yet important page of history. In the morning of Sept.11, 2001, four U.S. commercial airliners were hijacked by al Qaeda terrorists. Shortly after 9:00 a.m. the devastation began when the first two of these aircraft flew into the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center. Minutes later another hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth was headed toward Washington D.C. by way of Flight 93. The terrorists fought their way into the cockpit of this plane around 9:30 a.m. Phone calls between the authorities and the travelers on board alerted them to their probable destination of crashing into the Capitol Building. The brave passengers decided to fight and gain control of the plane and prevent that from happening---all the while knowing they would give their lives for that to occur. And they did, at approximately 10:03 a.m.

We arrived at the facility and were given time to explore the main building, nearby overlook area and a closer visit to the crash site memorial. More construction was kept behind fences, but we were focused on what we could learn from the large Visitor Center Complex. While the rain had stopped, I walked quickly to see the overview of the large, flat area where the historic site was located. A guide at the rail pointed to a boulder in the distance and told us that was where the tragedy occurred. An image of twisted wreckage flooded my senses and the last seconds of 40 passengers and crew haunted my mind. 

The Visitor Center was full of more information and some hands-on audio. This area was planned to be informative but with subdued lighting respectful of the unfolding chaos. Several large panels of minute by minute occurrences of that day were read by visitors in quiet observation. A notable scene was the path of Flight 93 shown in red on several of the large maps. Powerful descriptions and images conjured up in our minds were responsible for many tears on individuals’ faces. 

I dabbed at my own when I finished listening to one of the phone calls that visitors could pick up and hear. They were the messages sent to loved ones from the doomed passengers. I heard a young girl speaking to her mom, telling her that she was never coming home again---that she was in a plane that had been hi-jacked. While sobbing, she explained to her mother that the passengers were planning to overtake the aircraft in order to prevent the devastation of the likely targeted Capitol Building. They were determined to change the course of this plane so that wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t imagine the painful dialog the travelers had with those at home.What bravery they all showed through their last words to their loved ones. Theirs was a successful yet indescribable moment of genuine valor.  
 

I saved a few minutes to walk down the path and visit the crash site. It was about 200 feet from the railing on a flat grassy area. I focused on the boulder representing the headstone for the brave bodies buried underneath. I said a few prayers while imagining the last seconds of all those on board and their final thoughts. They shared in the noble act of unmitigated courage that saved a nation from another unspeakable act of devastation. No one will ever know the ultimate worry and desperation of the brave 40, but our prayers will forever be said in eternal thanks to all of them. As I left this sacred area, I hardly noticed the rain beginning to fall. It mixed with the tears I felt sliding down my cheeks. 

Lizabeth Braskie

I'm a retired Sun Newspaper typist. I've been writing freelance articles for the past twenty five years. Some of them are personal experiences having to do with my family of eight children and a total of twenty grandchildren. They keep me busy with a variety of subject matter.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 9:12 AM, 09.02.2016