SHANKSVILLE, Pa. — On an overcast and rainy morning several hundred people gathered in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania to honor the lives of the 40 passengers and crew members of United Flight 93.
The annual ceremony began at 9:45am the time it is believed the passengers and crew members overtook the hijackers on the plane Sept. 11, 2001. The plane crashed in the field at 10:03 that morning.
The Bells of Remembrance rang out after the names of all 40 were read by tearful family members amidst a crowd of spectators. The field is now the Flight 93 National Memorial operated by the National Park Service.
Families of Flight 93 President Gordon Felt said he comes back to feel closer to his brother and he feels everyone should visit the site and never forget the lives lost.
On display for the first time was the Congressional gold medal given to the Flight 93 National Memorial during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Sept, 10. Flight 93 National Memorial Deputy Superintendent Keith Newlin said the medal will be on display until Sunday this weekend and then it will be placed in the new visitors’ center expected to open Sept. 10 next year.
Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert presented a flag that flew on the U.S. Capitol on 9/11. He said he remembers looking out his office window that morning and seeing the black billowing smoke rolling across the National Mall. The flag he presented is still covering in that same smoke.
Hastert said he wanted to bring the flag to Shanksville because if it had not been for the bravery of those onboard Flight 93 who knows what would have happened to the capitol.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said the Flight 93 National Memorial site is hallowed ground. He said it is important to take time out to thank and pray for the men and women of Flight 93.