General Colin Powell to speak at September 11 Commemoration

September 9th, 2009

Flight 93 Memorial, Shanksville

Join us in honoring the heroes of Flight 93 on September 11, 2009 at 9:45 am in Shanksville, PA. U. S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar – whose efforts led to negotiated agreements between the federal government and all the private owners of properties needed for the construction of the permanent Flight 93 National Memorial – will deliver opening remarks at the eighth annual commemoration. The event honors the 40 heroes of United Flight 93 who lost their lives while fighting to resist a terrorist attack on our nation’s capital, ultimately crashing in a field in Shanksville.

Among the other program participants will be keynote speaker General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret); honorary co-chairs of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign former PA Governor and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and General Tommy R. Franks, USA (Ret); and Gordon Felt, President of the Families of Flight 93. Country music artist Trace Adkins will perform the National Anthem.

The commemoration begins at 9:45 a.m. adjacent to the temporary memorial site in Shanksville. At 10:03 a.m. – the moment Flight 93 crashed – the name of each of the heroic passengers and crew members will be read. Bells of Remembrance will be tolled by members of the Families of Flight 93 and community members who assisted in the aftermath of 9/11. There will also be a laying of wreaths at the crash site by the Families of Flight 93 and attending dignitaries.

Flight 93 Memorial, Shanksville

The public is encouraged to attend. Due to anticipated increased attendance, we recommend that visitors arrive no later than 8:15 a.m. No backpacks or large bags are permitted. There will be no seating available for the approximately one-hour presentation.

For additional information about the commemoration including directions to the site, go to www.nps.gov/flni.

For more information about how you can support the Flight 93 National Memorial, please visit www.honorflight93.org.