October 31, 2021 - Flight 93 Memorial

After leaving Pittsburgh, we decided to stop at the Flight 93 Memorial which is about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.  United Airlines Flight 93 was one of four aircraft hijacked in the September 11 attacks. The memorial is located in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

I had assumed the memorial would be a small thing out in the field;  I had no idea what a significant memorial they have built.

The Visitor's Center has a well done exhibit -- almost a museum -- covering the timeline of 911 and Flight 93, and who was aboard the aircraft.  There is also quite a bit about the investigation of the crash afterwards.  It is an emotional experience.  Sad for most people.  But my main emotion was anger.  Anger that something like this could happen in the United States.

   
Leaving the visitors center, you head out along a walkway to an overlook.
   
From the overlook, you can see the place where the jet crashed.  It is those dark spots at center right, just to the top of that parking lot, but just before the treeline.
   
The cold rain and grey skies fit the mood perfectly.  This was a sad place.
   
The large field used to be a coal mine, but the land has been restored.
   
   
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