Flight 93
Temporary Memorial, Shanksville, PA
A
single click on each photo will enlarge it for better viewing. |
Photo A1 |
This granite memorial stone was donated by a man from
Guatemala. The inscription reads,
"Let's Roll . . . In memory of . . . Herbert Erdmenger |
Photo A2 |
The same person who donated the memorial in Photo A1 also
gave this one. This inscription (including the misspelled words)
says:
"Let's Roll . . . Blessed are the peacemakers . . . for their heroism has allowed freedom to go on ringing. We honor you . . . . We admire you . . . We salute you. . . and we shall never forget you. May this land remain forever . . . America the Beautiful Herbert Erdmenger |
Photo B |
These slate "angels" mark the boundary between the temporary memorial site and the field in which Flight 93 crashed. There is an angel for each of the 40 passengers and crew, and they are placed in alphabetical order. The medal on Jeremy Glick's angel is from a skiing competition. |
Photo C |
At the top of this poster board under Plexiglas, donated by
the youth of a Church of God congregation, is John 15:13:
"Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends." On the cross in front of the poster board sign are numerous rosaries left by visitors. |
Photo D |
The flags and flowers at the base of this memorial, which includes names of the passengers and crew, are typical of the items left by visitors. |
Photo E |
This memorial stone, from "Grateful Colorado
Citizens" bears this inscription:
"To the First Citizen Heroes of the 21st century |
Photo F |
This memorial was given by a couple from Greenberg, PA. |
Photo G |
As Robert Bellah stated, civil religion is a people's attempt to interpret history "in light of transcendent reality." The message in large writing, "God is still in CONTROL" could be interpreted as one person's attempt to do so. |
Photo H |
Invoking God's blessing on the passengers and crew is one of the most common messages left by visitors. |
Photo I |
Although the quality of this photo is poor, it was the best I had that shows the chain link fence and painted plywood message boards. Note the helmets and coat of firefighters on the right side of the photo. |
Photo J |
Two of the Volunteer Ambassadors told me the story of a young man in one of the armed services who visited shortly before he was shipped overseas. The young man left his boots at the memorial. Based on my interviews with the Volunteer Ambassadors, it seems that military personnel and their families have very strong connections to the passengers and crew of Flight 93. |
Photo K |
I find this to be one of the most disturbing examples of the intermingling of the Christian faith with American Civil Religion. |