These pictures were taken at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was our second trip there and I still have to preface everything I say about it with one word - OVERWHELMING - humility, respect, awe, gratitude, reverence ... how does one find the words to express the multitude of feelings? The feelings of horror and shock and anger intermingle with the thoughts of amazement over the courage that these passengers & crew members - heroic patriots - showed on that terrible day. I tried to capture an overall sense of the place - but pictures can't really do it justice. We had stayed in the area prior to the incident and were familiar with it so we were personally comforted immediately when we heard the location of the crash. It's a pastoral setting - far removed from chaos and turmoil. It's very soothing, peaceful and restful and a place to reflect. It seems to us to be a resting place that's fitting. It's sacred ground.

The temporary memorial is on a hill overlooking the crash site which is fenced off and has a large American flag marking it. People leave many tributes - everything imaginable. Collections of small items are everywhere. Many leave written tributes on the guard rail and the main collecting area is the large 40 ft. long fence.

I hope these pictures help those people who cannot visit the site in person. I hope that it honors those heroes who gave their lives here - the ultimate sacrifice.

Please take time to visit the official web site:

http://www.honorflight93.org

CLICK ON THUMBNAILS FOR LARGER VIEW.