Remembering 9/11

On a trip to Western PA last year a friend blessed me with a visit to a small piece of history near Shanksville that I would invite you to see if you are ever traveling through that way. The Flt. 93 Memorial Chapel is dedicated to the passengers and crew that lost their lives there on 9/11/2001. It is a beautiful and inspiring place to visit and lovingly cared for by Father Alphonse Mascherino, the Director and Curator. There are many services at the chapel during the year (one on the first Thursday in May for National Day of Prayer), but there will be a gathering on 9/11 that will be memorable I am sure.
Please visit them at www.flt93memorialchapel.org for more information.

Just a bit down an old country road from the chapel we visited the site of the plane crash. There were two chain link fences groaning from all the mementos left there by a variety of people…first responders (one was a firefighters jacket from Shanksville signed by those who were there that tragic day), license plates and magnets from various states, notes, teddy bears, flags, ball caps, crosses, flowers, and more…all left by people wanting to connect, to remember, to be a part of honoring those quiet heroes.
After walking around the memorial site, we sat on the wooden benches inscribed with the names of the passengers and crew that lost their lives. The sky was a beautiful blue accented by puffy white clouds and we sat quietly…looking at the empty field (the final resting place for so many) marked only by the American flag, standing strong and proud…blowing gently in the breeze. The silence was deafening and it was hard to breathe….harder yet to leave. I prayed and wanted to linger, to remember and yet not remember what happened that day.

There are plans in the works to build a larger…more impressive memorial, but (at least for me) there can be no better place to visit than this people’s tribute to all who lost their lives. These were ordinary people going to work, vacationing with family, traveling for business ….many different reasons for being on a plane that day…or in the Twin Towers or the Pentagon. Yes, planes go down every day because of mechanical failure, pilot error, and weather. However, the planes that went down on 9/11 were used as instruments of terror, meant to destroy our country, and put fear in the hearts of our citizens. I think it had the opposite effect. We became more aware, more caring, stronger, and more willing to stand as one people, one nation…under God.

As the anniversary fast approaches, please remember to keep all those families who lost loved ones on 9/11 in your prayers.