I hope so, but I really wonder...

On the way home from DDQ&H's house last week, we decided to make one of those side-trips we always say we are going to do.  This time, it was a short diversion to see the Memorial for the Heroes of Flight 93.  It is just a short little drive off I-70 and we have been meaning to do this one ever since we have been going to NY.

Located in a remote, hilly area of Pennsylvania near the town of Shanksville, it is a pleasant drive.  And as you get closer to it however, your mind starts to take over and you think of the people and events of that day.  You conjure up a picture for yourself, partly made up of half-forgotten news reports, and partly from whatever you might know from personal experiences of wooded areas and hills.  It is nothing like the real site.

A long, winding drive sets the tone for you as you enter the grounds.  There are pull-offs with signs that explain some things, that give a perspective of what took place.  If you ever get the chance to stop at this site, don't by-pass these things as they really do give a sense of direction and help to better understand the enormity of the horror that took place just a little ways on down the road.

The entire site is still in the process of being built.  There are 40 groves of trees being planted, one for each of the victims of the crash.  And then you get to the parking lot.  It's not that big and I think that is good.  This whole place is an unpretentious marker of heroism and resistance to terrorism.  And then there is a small visitor center of sorts. Inside, there is a place to leave messages, thoughts, and sign in to a visitor's log.  There are more info signs around it, and a map so you can get your bearings of the events spread out before you.  There are also pictures of the 40 victims.

Memorial thoughts posted on the bulletin board.

None of them looks extraordinary.  No one would immediately pop out as being a super hero or someone capable of standing up to these Arab extremists this way.  I looked at the pictures and wondered if I had been on that plane, would I have had the courage to step up to them.  I think I would have, but I don't know.  I guess nobody really knows until they are confronted with something like this. Emerson once said : "Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." I don't know how any of them are different from me or me them.  But I am glad these particular individuals were aboard that flight.  If it had been anyone else, would the results have been the same? 

Anyway, back to the Memorial.  After going through the visitor building, you walk down a long walkway to the actual site of the crash.  There, you see a white granite wall made up of individual panels, each bearing the name of one of the victims.   As you face the wall, and look off to the right, up the hill over which they came before flipping and crashing, you can see some posts on top of the hill.  That establishes the final flight path of 93.  Then as you look to the left, you see some wooden poles that create a kind of door through which you can look out to see the actual impact area.  The whole area is fenced in to keep people out of there.  The crater is growing over now and will eventually be covered with wild flowers.  When we were there, the whole area was covered with snow.

View from the visitor center looking toward crash site.

One of the tributes left along the walkway to the crash site.

Looking up the hill over which the plane flew prior to crash. Notice the posts at the top of the picture, centered.  This establishes the flight path.

This is pretty much the same shot, except w/o the zoom.  Gives a perspective of the final, downhill flight path.

Looking down the Memorial Wall toward the impact site.  Notice the names of the victims on the wall. Beyond the gate is the impact site.

Impact area of Flight 93.

The covering of snow put this site in a different perspective from that September day.  It gave it a coldness that heightened the feeling of respect, and heroism that we felt. It spiked the coldness of this act of hatred.  It also intensified a bit the sadness we felt for the families of those who went down here.

And I still don't know if I have an answer for my original question.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.  (Ambrose Redmoon)

Hooah