SHANKSVILLE, PA- Flight 93 National Memorial will continue to remember the 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93 on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. The National Park Service (NPS) is planning a shortened remembrance to honor the courage and heroism displayed by the passengers and crew members nineteen years ago and will observe the day while also providing for the health and safety of visitors, the Families of Flight 93, volunteers and staff.
In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and in adherence to state and federal guidelines, the observance at Flight 93 National Memorial has been abbreviated. “By modifying the observance, we are able to honor the passengers and crew members, but also make the health and safety of visitors, staff and volunteers a priority," stated Flight 93 National Memorial Superintendent Stephen M. Clark. “While this year will certainly be different than in previous years, we remain committed to honoring the sacrifice of the forty heroes."
The NPS has made efforts to abbreviate the ninety-minute ceremony to a twenty minute “Moment of Remembrance" and is set to begin at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, September 11 at the Memorial Plaza. In the absence of a keynote speaker and musical talent, each name of the passengers and crew members will be read aloud with the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance. This moment will observe the exact time Flight 93 crashed at 10:03 a.m. The observance will be virtually streamed via EarthCam.
Visitors who wish to attend the name reading should expect limited parking. The NPS will not be providing shuttle transportation and some parking lots may require walking distances of over one mile to the Memorial Plaza.
The Visitor Center will open an hour early at 8:00 a.m. and remain open until 7:00 p.m. to provide increased access on September 11. Visitors arriving during peak hours to the Visitor Center may experience delayed entry due to the possibility of overcrowding and to ensure social distancing practices are optimal. The memorial will be open to the public, and visitors are encouraged to adhere to state and federal Coronavirus guidelines. To avoid large crowds, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the programs being virtually streamed.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/flni/planyourvisit/sept11observance. The virtual observance, carried live via EarthCam, will be free, convenient, and accessible to the public. Additional virtual programs will be available on the Flight 93 National Memorial Facebook Page.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
