SHANKSVILLE — Eight years after a jetliner crashed into a field here on Sept. 11, 2001, the message, Colin Powell said, remains: “We will prevail over the forces of darkness.”

Speaking before a crowd of several thousand under steely gray skies, the former secretary of state told family members of the fallen, “We can never totally grasp the emotions that must have gripped the hearts and minds of the passengers and crew.”

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Flight 93, bound from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco, was one of four jets hijacked by Muslim terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Two were crashed into the World Trade Center and brought the towers down. A third struck the Pentagon in Northern Virginia.

In Shanksville, Flight 93 crashed after passengers stormed the cockpit, controlled by terrorists. Authorities believe the plane was heading for a suicide mission into the Capitol.

Powell said that although future terrorist attacks are possible, the nation can honor the 40 innocent passengers of Flight 93 by showing “resolve to the American spirit.”

Calling them the “worthy successors to the Minutemen of Bunker Hill,” the retired general said these accidental heroes didn’t ask for their fate, but seized the moment.

Going forward, Powell said the United States must not show fear.

Referring to the million-plus number of visitors who have come to the temporary memorial, he said, “The purity of their pilgrimage gives the fields a healing strength.”

Several speakers made mention of the Flight 93 National Memorial.

Just within the past two weeks, the National Park Service struck deals to acquire all the land for the 2,200-acre site – including one eminent domain case. Groundbreaking is slated in early November, and the $58 million memorial is expected to be formally dedicated on Sept. 11, 2011.

Ahead of the speeches, the Laurel String Quartet played and country music star Trace Adkins sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella. Then, the Bells of Remembrance were sounded as family members and local volunteers read the names of the fallen one by one.

Powell was among dignitaries who spoke. Before him, Gov. Ed Rendell delivered the only speech of the day that was interrupted by applause.

He said, “What happened here will always be special.”

Then, choking on his words, Rendell said, “They came from all over ... On that day, they all became Pennsylvanians and forevermore they will stay Pennsylvanians.”

Gene Romah of Pittsburgh said after the hour-long ceremony, “It was very inspiring. The minute you come to this place, you can actually feel the sorrow and the things that happened here.”

Cindy Gish of Lancaster County made the trip with a girlfriend and said the visit was “something I meant to do for a long time. More Americans need to come here and visit it. You really need to experience it. It’s very moving.”

Others briefly spoke at the podium, including:

n Gordon Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93.

He said that people want to know what message the families want visitors to take away from the site.

“Courage,” he said, “for that is what our loved ones displayed that day. Their fears were overcome by courage to fight for their lives. Our loved ones chose to be courageous. History has labeled them heroes and for that I am grateful.”

He further described their reaction aboard United 93: “No – we will not sit back and let others dictate this course of human events.”

n Former Homeland Security Director and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

The service was held, Ridge said, “To honor the day that lives were saved and heroes were made in the skies of Shanksville.

“(It is) our privilege to stand up for them as they did for us.”

n Gen. Tommy Franks.

“Their lives were not taken,” he said. “Their lives were given.”

n Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

(Flight 93 victims) are a “shining example of the greatness of the human spirit,” he said. “We will never forget.

“We also honor and thank the community of Shanksville, who were also victims on Sept. 11, 2001, and who have sacrificed so much since then. Three hundred sixty-five days a year, volunteers from the community stand guard at this temporary memorial. The Families of Flight 93 and the people of Shanksville are now family.”

n U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

Quoted his father, the late governor, in praying “that we may be worthy of their valor.”