September 11 2013 Observance at Flight 93 National Memorial

News Release Date: August 29, 2013

Contact: Mike Litterst, [phone]

Flight 93 National Memorial September 11 Commemoration

to Honor the Heroes of Flight 93

~ Special Programs feature Commemorative Ceremony,

Groundbreaking for Visitor Center, and Luminary Lighting ~

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. – Flight 93 National Memorial will honor the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 on the 12^th anniversary of September 11 with two days of special programs, culminating in the annual observance on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.

The groundbreaking of the Flight 93 National Memorial Visitor Center Complex will take place on Tuesday, September 10 at 3:00 p.m. The project will include a 6,800 square foot visitor center that will more fully tell the story of Flight 93, as well as a learning center, parking and related features. The new visitor center is expected to open in September 2015.   Several renderings and architectural drawings will be on display both days, with volunteers providing additional information to visitors.

The 40^th and final meeting of the Flight 93 Federal Advisory Commission will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 10 a.m. at the National Park Service planning office at 109 W. Main Street in Somerset.  The 15-member Commission was authorized by Congress to oversee development of the boundary for Flight 93 National Memorial, preparation of a General Management Plan, and selection of a design for the memorial.  The Commission met quarterly for the past ten years, taking public comments, hearing committee reports, offering advice, and taking action to advance the Memorial project.  Since their Congressional mandate has been met, the Commission will hold its final meeting on September 10. The public is invited to this session.  A retrospective of the Commission's work will be presented and reports from the National Park Service and other partner groups and committees will be given.  

The Luminaria Program will take place on Tuesday, September 10 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  An array of 40 candle lanterns will be placed at the Wall of Names, serving as a silent and moving tribute to the tragic loss of life of the passengers and crew on Flight 93 in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The September 11 Observance will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11 at the Memorial Plaza. At 10:03 a.m. – the moment Flight 93 crashed – the names of the passengers and crew members will be read and Bells of Remembrance will be rung in their memory. The ceremony will also include a wreath laying at the Wall of Names. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. No backpacks or large bags are permitted. There will be no seating available for the approximately 40-minute ceremony, although guests are permitted to bring their own chairs.  Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to allow ample time for the shuttle ride from the parking area to the Memorial Plaza. 

Updated information on these events will be available on the memorial website at www.nps.gov/flni

If You Go
Flight 93 National Memorial is a tribute to the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 and is a place to explore and discover their inspiring story of courage and hope. A 3.5 mile scenic drive leads visitors from the entrance at US Route 30 to the Memorial Plaza at the crash site where visitors may view panels in an outdoor exhibit area and learn more through cell phone tours; talk with Park Rangers and volunteer Ambassadors; participate in interpretive programs; view the field where Flight 93 crashed, which is the final rest­ing place of the passengers and crew; and walk along the Wall of Names. The Memorial Plaza is fully accessible; for specific details, contact the park at [phone].

The memorial is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last entry at 6:30) from May 1 to October 31; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30) from November 1 to May 1.  Admission is free of charge.  Flight 93 National Memorial is located 20 miles northeast of Somerset and 24 miles west of Bedford; the entrance is located at 6424 Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) in Stoystown, PA 15563.  For further information, visitwww.nps.gov/flni or call [phone]. 

 NPS

 
About the National Park Service
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About Flight 93 National Memorial
On Sept. 24, 2002, Congress passed the Flight 93 National Memorial Act. The Act created a new national park unit to 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. The memorial is outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed with the loss of its 40 passengers and crew. For more information about the Flight 93 National Memorial, please visit www.nps.gov/flni