|
Church members assist with memorial for 9/11 crash site
|
Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service
A volunteer ambassador speaks to visitors at the Flight 93 crash site and temporary memorial near Shanksville, Pa.
|
| A
volunteer ambassador speaks to visitors at the United Airlines Flight
93 crash site and temporary memorial near Shanksville, Pa. The
ambassadors are the point of contact for the thousands of people from
around the world who visit the site where the 40 passengers and crew
prevented the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers from completing their mission.
The 42 ambassadors help people deal with their emotional reactions to
the site. Of the ambassadors, 12 are United Methodists. Donna Glessner, a
member of Shanksville United Methodist Church, is the coordinator of
the volunteer ambassadors project at the site. A UMNS photo courtesy of
the U.S. National Park Service. Photo #06xxx. Accompanies UMNS story
#531. 9/8/06 |
Sept 8., 2006
A UMNS Report
By Linda Green*
Five years have passed since United Airlines Flight 93, a hijacked
airliner, crashed in a remote field near Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11.
During that time, the field has attracted significant attention as
people from across the United States and globe visit the site to show
respect. More than 130,000 visited the site in 2006, and visitors have
increased 46 percent this summer, according to Donna Glessner, a member
of Shanksville (Pa.) United Methodist Church and coordinator of the
volunteer ambassadors project at the site.
“We’ve always had significant attraction," she said. "People are
there visiting the site in January and February in the snow." The recent
movie, "Flight 93," has contributed to increase at the site, she added.
Four hijackers took over the plane on Sept. 11, 2001, and attempted
to aim it toward the nation’s capital as part of a planned attack on the
United States. Two planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center
building and another struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The 40
passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 foiled their hijackers’ plan and
earned a name for themselves and recognition in the form of a permanent
memorial in Shanksville.
|
A UMNS photo by the Rev. Thomas St. Clair
Families of victims at the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed visit a memorial.
|
| Families
of victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near
Shanksville, Pa., visit a memorial near the site. Volunteer ambassadors
are the point of contact for the thousands of people from around the
world who visit the site where the 40 passengers and crew prevented the
Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers from completing their mission. The 42
ambassadors - including 12 United Methodists - help people deal with
their emotional reactions to the site. Donna Glessner, a member of
Shanksville United Methodist Church, is the coordinator of the volunteer
ambassadors project at the site. A UMNS photo by the Rev. Thomas St.
Clair. Photo #06xxx. Accompanies UMNS story #531. 9/8/06 |
More than 200 members of the crew and passengers’ families are
expected to attend a public memorial service called "United in Courage,
Community and Commitment," scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Sept. 11. Included in
the program will be a reading of names of the passengers, a tolling of
bells of remembrance, and special music and invited speakers.
On other days, ambassadors are the human point of contact for the
thousands from around the world who visit the Flight 93 site and
temporary memorial, Glessner said.
"We give directions, and we listen to stories about people (and what)
they were doing that day," she added. Of the 42 ambassadors involved,
12 are United Methodists who help people deal with their reactions to
the site.
"I am honored to serve in this way," Glessner said. "I have never
been in the military and have always felt the desire to serve my
country."
The responsibility of the ambassadors, she explained, is to "tell the
truth as we know it" and "help people understand the significance of
what those people on Flight 93 did that day."
According to the www.flight93memorialproject.org, the Web site about the National Memorial, the temporary memorial "is a place for quiet reflection and expressions of respect."
Visiting the crash site and memorial "is very spiritual" for some and
"awakens feelings about other traumatic events in their lives,"
Glessner said.
A national memorial was signed into action by President Bush Oct. 24,
2002, to honor the crew passengers "for their courageous actions to
thwart an attack on our nation’s capital." Glessner also is vice
chairperson of the federal advisory commission that is working with
government agencies on the national memorial’s design, boundaries and
management.
A $30 million national and international campaign for the memorial
has been launched "to remember, revere and reflect on the heroism of the
passengers and crew of Flight 93." Information on making donations can
be found at www.honorflight93.org.
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
|
|
