07 March 2002

Bill Would Create Memorial For United Airlines Flight 93

Representative John Murtha (Democrat of Pennsylvania) submitted a bill to the House of Representatives March 7 to authorize a national memorial at the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed as passengers fought terrorists for control of the aircraft on September 11 last year.

Murtha, whose congressional district includes Somerset County, site of the crash, introduced H.R. 3917, which was referred to the House Resources Committee.

According to the Congressional Record, the memorial in the Pennsylvania countryside would "commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capital."

In a March 8 news release, Murtha said "hundreds if not thousands of additional lives would have been lost, and our government would have been disrupted if this attack had been carried out as planned."

The site outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania has national historical significance, the lawmaker said, because it was "the first site in America where citizens successfully fought back and stopped terrorism."

Murtha's bill describes the crash site as "a profound symbol of American patriotism and spontaneous leadership of citizen-heroes."

Following is the text of the news release:

Washington, March 8, 2002 -- U.S. Rep. John Murtha today announced that he has introduced legislation that will designate a National Memorial at the crash site of Flight 93 in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

"The people on Flight 93 were courageous and heroic in giving their lives to bring down that airplane before it could reach its intended target in our Nation's capital. Hundreds if not thousands of additional lives would have been lost, and our government would have been disrupted if this attack had been carried out as planned. I think it's quite clear that the crash site has national historical significance. It is the first site in America where citizens successfully fought back and stopped terrorism," Murtha said. "As our legislation says, the crash site is 'a profound symbol of American patriotism and spontaneous leadership of citizen-heroes.'"

Murtha, who represents the area in rural Pennsylvania where the flight crashed, made his announcement just prior to the six-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that struck the World Trade Towers in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington. United Airlines Flight 93 was one of four U.S. commercial jets commandeered by terrorists, who are believed to have been targeting either the Capitol or White House until the heroic passengers stormed the terrorists and caused the airliner to crash near Shanksville, PA.

In addition, Susan Hankinson, Somerset County Flight 93 Coordinator, unveiled the Flight 93 Memorial website and logo. She noted that the county and many interested groups are working to develop a Flight 93 Task Force that will be a broad, all-inclusive organization that will include local residents and landowners, emergency responders, family of passengers and crew members, historians and others.

This website -- www.flt93memorial.org -- will go online Monday and serve as the "official" point of contact for Flight 93 related information, including ongoing activities of the Flight 93 Task Force, official anniversary events, contributions, contact information and related links to provide family members and the public with current and accurate information.

Hankinson also outlined plans for an Ecumenical Memorial Service at Shanksville United Methodist Church, Main Street, at 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 11th, the six-month anniversary. A bronze plaque will be dedicated at the temporary memorial site immediately after the service. Church bells will ring at 10:06 a.m., tolling 40 times for those who lost their lives.

Murtha said the process of designing the National Memorial would be slow and deliberate, taking great care to include all of the "stakeholders" in a consensus process that will involve two entities. The Flight 93 Task Force will provide input to a more formal Flight 93 Advisory Commission, which will be appointed by the Secretary of Interior from recommendations of the Task Force.

The Commission will be responsible for taking formal actions, such as selecting planning and design contractors, reviewing design alternatives and recommending a design to the Secretary of Interior and Congress. One suggestion has been to have an open design submission and juried selection process.

The National Park Service will provide project management and other assistance to the Advisory Commission during the entire process, and will have authority to buy or accept land and administer the site.

Pamela Tokar-Ickes, a Somerset County Commissioner who worked with all the site stakeholders to develop the planning strategy, said of the legislation, "I think it creates a strong link between local Task Force input and necessary federal oversight, assistance and administration that, in the end, will result in a memorialization fitting to these individuals and this event."

Hankinson added, "This legislation underscores the significance of this event, not only to Somerset County but to the nation. It symbolizes our commitment to the families that the legacy of their loved ones will endure for the generations."