Excerpts from a statement on the Flight 93 National Memorial groundbreaking by U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown: Looking out across this field, I saw no sign that an airplane had crashed here. There were no burning buildings or piles of rubble like we saw pictured in New York and at the Pentagon. All that remained in this field was smoldering earth and a charred tree line.
I was quoted as saying, “Somebody here was a hero, a passenger ... or the pilot who would not fly on. There must have been a struggle. Some heroic individual brought this plane down.”
I was right about a struggle, but I was wrong in saying “some heroic individual brought this plane down.” In fact, there were 40 heroic individuals aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that morning. Forty ordinary citizens, who together, decided to make an extraordinary sacrifice.
... I want to commend and compliment Secretary Salazar and the National Park Service, the Families of Flight 93, our local and state officials, and all those involved with the planning and construction of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Future generations will look out across this quiet Pennsylvania field and forever be reminded of the story of Flight 93 and the courage and sacrifice of her passengers and crew.
