Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?”
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since September 11, 2001. For so many of us, that moment remains forever frozen in time.
For me, the day began much like any other. I wasn’t working, so my morning was filled with the ordinary routines of a young mother, completely unaware of how profoundly that day would change everything. My daughter was already on the school bus, and my infant son sat in his highchair eating cereal. I was working on laundry, with the television playing in the background.
Then, suddenly, every television broadcast turned to breaking news. It didn’t take long for us to realize that our beloved nation was under attack. Many of us watched in disbelief as the images unfolded on live television. At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Our ordinary routines were instantly replaced by panic, confusion, and fear. We continued watching as the unimaginable unfolded before us. At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed. Reports of another attack at the Pentagon followed, and the nation struggled to comprehend what was happening. The Federal Aviation Administration shut down U.S. airspace and ordered all aircraft operating in the country to land.
Then came the story of Flight 93.
United Airlines Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, NJ, to San Francisco, CA, when four terrorists hijacked the plane as part of the coordinated attacks taking place across the United States. Through phone calls to family members and loved ones, passengers learned that other hijacked planes had struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They realized their own aircraft was likely being used as a weapon. And they decided to fight back.
Led by passengers including Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick, a group of passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the airplane. Their courage prevented the hijackers from reaching their intended target. At 10:03 a.m., Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All 40 passengers and crew members aboard were killed.
Today, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County honors those 40 individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Visiting the memorial is a powerful and emotional experience. The quiet landscape encourages reflection and gives visitors an opportunity to learn the personal stories behind one of the most tragic days in American history.
By preserving the site and honoring those who died there, the memorial ensures that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. It reminds future generations that courage can emerge in the most unexpected places, and that even in moments of unimaginable fear, ordinary people can choose to stand together and protect others.
I visited the Flight 93 Memorial in May 2024. I walked along the flight path, read the names of each passenger and crew member on the Wall of Names, and saw the boulder marking the point of impact. I also stood at the base of the Tower of Voices.
The Tower of Voices stands 93 feet tall and contains 40 wind chimes, each representing one of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives that day. When the wind moves through the tower, the chimes create a haunting yet peaceful harmony.
So, here’s a piece of my mind…as we pause to remember September 11, we must never forget the cost of human life, or the courage of those who “went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field.”
The Flight 93 Memorial is only a short drive for many of us and a visit there makes it easier to understand the enormity of what happened and the extraordinary courage displayed by a group of ordinary people.
When I stood at the base of the Tower of Voices, the wind began to blow. The chimes came together in one beautiful, peaceful harmony. I closed my eyes and listened. For just a moment, I could almost hear those words that have come to symbolize the courage of Flight 93- “Let’s Roll.”
Twenty-five years later, we remember. We honor. And we will never forget.
