SHANKSVILLE, Pa. – Time is growing like wildflowers over our collective memory of Sept. 11, 2001, turning an old brew of righteous anger and fear into something new and, if we’re lucky, easier to live with.
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Painful? Sure, Sept. 11 is still that. The very idea of the attacks – the arrogance of the terrorists who decided nearly 3,000 lives were worth tossing away so they could make their statement, however insipid – continues to enrage any sane person who ponders it.
But there’s more to it now, too, not yet easy to describe but real all the same.
If that wasn’t clear earlier in our journey, during the previous 12 states and at least as many 9/11 memorials, it slapped us hard Wednesday, Sept. 9, when we drove into the parking lot of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Various elements of this memorial cover 2,200 acres of verdant, beautiful field.
That’s the word that’s been connected to Flight 93 since it crashed here – “into a field,” news accounts said, repeatedly – 25 years ago.
But this land was more complicated than that, and it still is.
On Sept. 10, 2001, it was both a wild field and a strip mine, a mix that in this part of Pennsylvania isn’t as weird as it sounds.
A day later it was a crime scene, the exact spot where Flight 93 crashed after it was hijacked by terrorists and famously taken back by random civilians who likely prevented the plane from flying into the Capitol or the White House, roughly 13 minutes away by air. (“Hero” is painfully overused, but in this case it’s apt.)
After that, for a time, much of the field was seared and charred and steamy; scary and apocalyptic.
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Rick Fitzpatrick, left, and his wife, Patti Fitzpatrick, at the Flight Path Overlook at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chalk artist Jennifer Ripassa, from Eastvale, California, draws Nicole Carol Miller, a passenger aboard Flight 93, during a live chalk art event at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Ripassa said she wanted to draw Miller because, “she was one of the younger ones” and “we have fitness in common”. Twenty chalk artists from across the country drew portraits of passengers and crew along the flight path of Flight 93. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A board with pictures of the crew and passengers at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chalk artist Graham Curtis draws Alan Anthony Beaven, a passenger aboard Flight 93, during a live chalk art event at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Twenty chalk artists from across the country drew portraits of passengers and crew along the flight path of Flight 93. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Richard Valentine visits The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hal Mante, and his wife, Joyce Mante, sit on a bench as they look toward the crash site at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Hal Mante, in comparing this memorial to Ground Zero, said New York is more graphic while Shanksville is more peaceful. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A boulder that marks the impact site at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The impact site is closed to the public. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Items left at Memorial Plaza near the impact site include challenge coins, a stuffed animal and a Rosary at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A visitor to the Flight 93 National Memorial dons a “Let’s Roll” pin in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. “Let’s roll” was the last recorded command of passenger Todd Beamer before he and others tried to retake the cockpit from hijackers on September 11, 2001. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hal Mante, and his wife, Joyce Mante, walk along a path between the visitor center and impact site at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors to the Flight 93 National Memorial walk on the path from the impact site to the Visitor Center in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A half-finished chalk drawing of Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a passenger aboard Flight 93, during a live chalk art event at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Twenty chalk artists from across the country drew portraits of passengers and crew along the flight path of Flight 93. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chalk artist Jennifer Ripassa, from Eastvale, California, draws Nicole Carol Miller, a passenger aboard Flight 93, during a live chalk art event at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Ripassa said she wanted to draw Miller because, “she was one of the younger ones” and “we have fitness in common”. Twenty chalk artists from across the country drew portraits of passengers and crew along the flight path of Flight 93. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Richard Valentine, and his wife, Patty Valentine, visit The Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monumental tower holding 40 wind chimes near the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A ranger stands with a person at a boulder that marks the impact site at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The impact site is closed to the public. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A visitor to the Flight 93 National Memorial looks towards the crash site in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Geri Johnson and her brother-in-law, Terry Johnson, walk along the Memorial Plaza at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors to the Flight 93 National Memorial check out the Wall of Names in Shanksville, PA, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. During the Sept. 11 terrorist, American Airlines Flight 93, from Newark to San Francisco, was hijacked. The passengers, hearing about the other attacks, took over the plane and caused the crash in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Then the decency campaign began.
Locals and others – the best of us, probably – reclaimed the strip mine, buried the debris, and planted seeds. After that, they let nature run riot.
Today, the memorial includes a 93-foot-high chime that plays a two-octave, jazzy kind of music when the wind reaches 12 mph. It also has a visitors center, where grandparents and school kids and everybody in between can see multimedia accounts from Sept. 11 and, if they notice it, a glass box filled with items found in the wreckage: a theater ticket, a student ID, a AAA Insurance card.
And, out in the field – a mile or so from the visitor’s center – is the memorial’s true centerpiece, a huge polished stone, shoulder-high and heavy. It’s fenced off and, on most days, only family members can go there.
A park worker said he doesn’t listen to music on his headphones when using his weed whacker anywhere near the stone. “It’s a sacred place. You can feel it.”
But everywhere else, the memorial is simplicity itself – trees, weeds, flowers, grasses. A wildflower or two.
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It’s powerful.