The fog was thick that September morning as we rode out of Shanksville, the type of fog you have trouble getting off your face shield, similiar to the fog that gives the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee their name. About 200 of us had ridden out to the impact site that morning, after turning off our motors, the only sound heard was from boots walking on the shale parking lot, that temporarily served as parking for the makeshift memorial. A beautiful memorial, simple in that it has personal momentos from Americans who remember the events of 9-11-2001. As tears formed in our eyes, we stood before a cross, waiting for the ceremony to begin-not realizing that we were on holy ground. Spontaneously a man stepped out from the crowd and began to sing the National Anthem, and soon we were all singing, with hands over our chests, in respect and honor of those 40 heroes on flight 93. Words cannot describe the emotions-somewhere betweeen awe/love/curiousity/respect/honor. With a deep sense of gratitude for what they had done.
40 people united on that flight that morning and won the first victory over the Al Queda and those cowardly terrorists. In a day when we were able to watch planes flown into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, there is no film of what these heroes did that day, only some sound bites and memories of last phone calls to loved ones. I have met and talked to women in Shanksville who saw the plane before it went into the mountain that day. I have seen the picture, believed to be the last one of flight 93 as it cruised over a farm, and talked to a man who was out of town that day, only to come home and pick up eight bags of plane parts from his yard two miles away. I also talked with a man who claims to have seen the plane flying low, upside down seconds before the crash. The locals call it Thunder on the Mountain because it sounded like the thunder they get on the ridge. Only that day it was from a plane hijacked by terrorists, then taken back by 40 heroes, American patriots, who when they took off that morning had no idea of their place in history.
And much like the Holy Spirit draws you to God, I am drawn to Shanksville, to this site of the crash, but also to the vision of one man-the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel. Father Al was helping with the infrastructure of the crash, when God gave him a vision of the chapel, and that is why it is there today. A story too long to tell except in serial form, this memorial to them draws hundreds of thousands annually to remember why flight 93 has the heroes it does. No visit is complete without visiting both the impact site and the chapel. One a somber ground, where death was the final victory, the other a place to reconcile with God in a peaceful atmosphere, among other patriots. Small momentos are at the chapel also, and one wood burned sign tells better than any words I have seen the love for these heroes. It reads:
THE BRAVE AMERICANS WHO BOARDED FLIGHT 93 DID NOT KNOW THEY WOULD BE CALLED UPON TO BECOME WARRIORS FOR GOOD, IN THE EVER PRESENT BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. EVEN SO, THEY EXERCISED THEIR GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO FREEDOM BY TAKING A VOTE, AND THEN TOOK OSAMA'S KILLERS TO THE GROUND. SINCE I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY WHO EARNED THE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR, I AM LEAVING THEM ONE OF MINE. SEMPER FI.
KEN GUERCIO
5-30-05
I would advise seeing the memorial soon, as the federal government has plans for a $22million dollar memorial. The present one costs nothing, it is donations and momentos of a personal level from the heart of those who love our country, and honor those who were killed that day. And make sure to stop at the chapel. Tell my friend Father Al I sent you. And listen to the stories, and remember the morning that changed America forever. And then tell others, so we will never forget the blessings that God has given us as Americans-and that evil wants to take away from us. Keep history alive by praying for the families fo these heroes-they too miss their loved ones, every day, not just on birthdays and holidays. You see they were just normal folks like you and me, but when called upon by the holy spirit, responded in love-love for fellow Americans and for God. Scripture came alive on flight 93 that day-may the same God who inspired them, encourage you in your walk. They flew into the shadow of the valley of death, and gave their most precious possession-their lives, so that we can live free. Join me in prayer as I remember them-and their families. As long as the story is told, the memory will forever continue. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for others. May we all be so humble and obedient when called.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
flt93memorialchapel.org
40 people united on that flight that morning and won the first victory over the Al Queda and those cowardly terrorists. In a day when we were able to watch planes flown into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, there is no film of what these heroes did that day, only some sound bites and memories of last phone calls to loved ones. I have met and talked to women in Shanksville who saw the plane before it went into the mountain that day. I have seen the picture, believed to be the last one of flight 93 as it cruised over a farm, and talked to a man who was out of town that day, only to come home and pick up eight bags of plane parts from his yard two miles away. I also talked with a man who claims to have seen the plane flying low, upside down seconds before the crash. The locals call it Thunder on the Mountain because it sounded like the thunder they get on the ridge. Only that day it was from a plane hijacked by terrorists, then taken back by 40 heroes, American patriots, who when they took off that morning had no idea of their place in history.
And much like the Holy Spirit draws you to God, I am drawn to Shanksville, to this site of the crash, but also to the vision of one man-the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel. Father Al was helping with the infrastructure of the crash, when God gave him a vision of the chapel, and that is why it is there today. A story too long to tell except in serial form, this memorial to them draws hundreds of thousands annually to remember why flight 93 has the heroes it does. No visit is complete without visiting both the impact site and the chapel. One a somber ground, where death was the final victory, the other a place to reconcile with God in a peaceful atmosphere, among other patriots. Small momentos are at the chapel also, and one wood burned sign tells better than any words I have seen the love for these heroes. It reads:
THE BRAVE AMERICANS WHO BOARDED FLIGHT 93 DID NOT KNOW THEY WOULD BE CALLED UPON TO BECOME WARRIORS FOR GOOD, IN THE EVER PRESENT BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. EVEN SO, THEY EXERCISED THEIR GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO FREEDOM BY TAKING A VOTE, AND THEN TOOK OSAMA'S KILLERS TO THE GROUND. SINCE I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY WHO EARNED THE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR, I AM LEAVING THEM ONE OF MINE. SEMPER FI.
KEN GUERCIO
5-30-05
I would advise seeing the memorial soon, as the federal government has plans for a $22million dollar memorial. The present one costs nothing, it is donations and momentos of a personal level from the heart of those who love our country, and honor those who were killed that day. And make sure to stop at the chapel. Tell my friend Father Al I sent you. And listen to the stories, and remember the morning that changed America forever. And then tell others, so we will never forget the blessings that God has given us as Americans-and that evil wants to take away from us. Keep history alive by praying for the families fo these heroes-they too miss their loved ones, every day, not just on birthdays and holidays. You see they were just normal folks like you and me, but when called upon by the holy spirit, responded in love-love for fellow Americans and for God. Scripture came alive on flight 93 that day-may the same God who inspired them, encourage you in your walk. They flew into the shadow of the valley of death, and gave their most precious possession-their lives, so that we can live free. Join me in prayer as I remember them-and their families. As long as the story is told, the memory will forever continue. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for others. May we all be so humble and obedient when called.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
flt93memorialchapel.org