Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial protects the site of the crash of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, west of Sky Line Road in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania. The site will also feature a memorial to the 40 innocent victims of the hijacking, including those who fought back against the four 9/11 terrorists on board the Boeing 757-222 airplane. The current design for the memorial is a modified version of the entry Crescent of Embrace by Paul and Milena Murdoch.

Of the four airplanes hijacked on September 11, Flight 93 is notable in that it did not reach its intended target, presumed to be in Washington, D.C., perhaps either the United States Capitol or the White House. The passengers had learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center through cellular telephone calls to family. It is believed that at least flight attendants Cee Cee Lyles and Sandra Bradshaw and passengers Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, Andrew Garcia, Jeremy Glick, and Richard Guadagno (and perhaps others) fought back against the hijackers. The plane crashed into the Pennsylvania field shortly after 10 o'clock in the morning, killing all on board, but no one on the ground.

On March 7, 2002, Congressman John Murtha (PA-12) introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives to establish a National Memorial to be developed by a commission, and ultimately administered by the National Park Service. On April 16, 2002, Senator Arlen Specter (PA) introduced a version of the "Flight 93 National Memorial Act" in the Senate. On September 10, 2002 the bill passed both houses of Congress. The final bill specifically excluded the four hijackers from the passengers to be memorialized. When signed by President George W. Bush on September 24, 2002 it became Public Law No. 107-226, and the site was automatically listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The site of the crash is closed to the general public pending the development of the memorial, but it is accessible to victims' family members. A neighbor has created a temporary memorial on a hilltop, approximately 500 yards north of the crash site. The temporary memorial is on private property, and visitors are asked to remain respectful. Visitors may write their thoughts or simply record their visit in bound books or on comment cards.

Within three years after the act became law, the commission is to submit to the Secretary of the Interior and Congress a report containing recommendations for the planning, design, construction, and long-term management of a permanent memorial at the crash site. The proposed boundaries of the National Memorial extend from Lambertsville Road to U.S. Highway 30. It will be approximately 2200 acres, of which about 1200 will be privately held, but protected through partnership agreements.