Improvements eyed at Flight 93 memorial's western overlook
Sep. 20—Planning and fundraising for a new facet of the Flight 93 National Memorial is underway as nonprofit group plans to enhance the western overlook, the spot where families got their first glimpse of the Sept. 11, 2001 crash site.
Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial executive director Donna Gibson said there will be benches, plants and extra space for park rangers to discuss with visitors the overlook's importance.
"There's a lot of historical significance," she said.
United Flight 93 crashed in the Somerset County field during coordinated terrorist attacks. The Stonycreek site honors the 40 passengers and crew members aboard the airplane, who authorities believe took a vote and fought back against their hijackers after learning of three other plane crashes that morning in New York City and at the Pentagon.
Work on the memorial started in the years afterwards and a trail was built connecting two parts of it. The western overlook is along the trail and, while it is marked, the full gravity of the spot's significance may be lost on passersby, Gibson said. In the days after the crash, the site grew into a small memorial with bouquets of flowers and photographs, while authorities investigated feet away.
The friends group is working with the National Park Service Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation on a design. Gibson said she hopes the updated overlook will be completed next year.
That's where the fundraising comes in. The cost of the improvements are estimated at $200,000. The Friends of Flight 93's Heroes' Walk earlier this month brought in $60,000, Gibson said.
The organization has collaborated with Forbes Trail Brewery, a short distance away from the park's entrance on Route 30, for a Pints for Parks fundraiser Saturday starting at 2 p.m. to coincide with National Public Lands Day.
Owner and head brewer Mike Fahy created Giving Back Pale Ale for the event and all proceeds from sales of the brew will be donated to the Western Overlook project.
The brewery is next door to Patriot Park Memorial which intends to honor those who fought and died in the global war on terror. Ground was broken at that memorial in mid-2021 and it is open to the public during construction.
Being neighbors to the two sites means that visitors have the opportunity to have a beer and decompress after learning about two heavy subjects, Fahy said. Forbes Trail Brewery opened in July and while Fahy didn't pick the location because of its proximity to the memorials, it has served as an unofficial stopping point for some.
"We've been fortunate that we're there to" provide memorial visitors with a respite from the bravery demonstrated at both sites, he said.
Saturday's fundraiser will include door prizes, Friends of Flight 93 merchandise for purchase, Smoky Trail BBQ food truck and music from Bam and Jeff Perigo, Allison Borek, Stan Supraniwicz and Chris Daugherty. The brewery is at 6108 Route 30, not far from the entrance to the national memorial.
Donations can be made online at flight93friends.org/donate.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .
