Flight 93 Crash Site Memorial Cruise - 6-7 August - MCOM

2011 Flight 93 Memorial Ride – August 6-7 – Shanksville, PA – “Let’s Roll!”
Rain or shine - Hosted by Mustang Club of Maryland (MCOM)

NOTE NEW DATE - This date was changed from 13-14 August due to a conflict with the CJ Pony Parts Event

On the morning of August 06, we will cruise to Shanksville, PA, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of those brave souls aboard United Flight 93 who fought back for us on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Shanksville PA is a small town located about 3 hours from Baltimore. It is nestled in the beautiful mountains of rural PA. On the morning of September 11, 2001. 44 brave men and women aboard UAL Flight 93 fought back 4 terrorists and saved countless lives in Washington, DC. It is believed that the U.S. Capitol Building was the hijacker’s intended target.

We can take a collection prior to the event to make a donation to the Memorial Chapel and to get a wreath to lay at the Crash Site.

This will be a very fitting tribute to those who so bravely fought for us. Other Mustang Clubs are invited to attend. However, I ask that they coordinate with me so we don’t end up with a Charlie Foxtrot. ; ) I can be emailed directly at heroescruise@verizon.net

This cruise is very near and dear to me. I lost a co-worker on 9-11, and spent the next few weeks as a volunteer firefighter at the Pentagon and Ground Zero.

Scott Robinson
heroescruise@verizon.net

Update
I spoke with the National Park Service (keepers of the Flight 93 Site) and they are excited to have us do the Cruise. They will arrange parking and will host a Wreath Laying Ceremony for us to perform at the Site. This will be a wonderful chance to truly honor the heroes who fought back for all of us that day.

What You Need to Do
· Reserve the date on your calendar!
· Post here, or drop me a line and let me know if you are going, and if you want to stay the night
· Be prepared for a patriotic and emotional day
· Bring a camera

Cruise Details
Shanksville is about 150 miles from Baltimore and will take about 3 hours to get there. It is a scenic and beautiful drive. We will be leisurely cruising the speed limits. For those who want to spend the night (suggested), we’ll reserve a block of rooms at a local hotel in Somerset, PA, and do a group dinner. If enough are interested, we can get a group rate. The area is very historic, scenic, and good for driving!

Hotel Reservations
More info once we get a head count. Drop me a line if you are interested.

Route
Primarily Route 70
PA Rt. 30 to Shanksville (nice and scenic country road)

Saturday, 06 August
8:00 AM - Meet in Mt. Airy, MD, just off Rt. 70
11:30 AM – Stop for lunch just outside Shanksville
1:00 PM – Arrive at Flight 93 Memorial Chapel
2:00 PM – Depart for Flight 93 Crash Site (minutes from Chapel)
2:30 PM – Lay wreath at Crash Site
3:00 PM – Depart site for hotel in Somerset, or home
6:00 PM – Dinner in Somerset

Sunday, 07 August
Visit Que Creek Mine Rescue site – Somerset
Visit Johnstown Flood Site
Return home

Destination Websites
Memorial Chapel – www.flt93memorialchapel.org
Flt 93 Crash Site - http://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm



UAL Flight 93 History
The hijacking on Flight 93 began at 09:28 on September 11, 2001. By this time, Flights 11 and 175 had already crashed into the World Trade Center and Flight 77 was within minutes of striking the Pentagon. At 09:28, a crew member in the cockpit began shouting, "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" over the radio amidst sounds of violence.

Thirty-five seconds after the first Mayday call, the crew made another transmission. Someone in the cockpit shouted, "Mayday! Get out of here! Get out of here!"

The cockpit voice recorder began recording the final 30 minutes of Flight 93 at 09:31. It recorded a hijacker, "Ladies and gentlemen: here the captain, please sit down and keep remaining seating. We have a bomb on board. So sit." A flight attendant being held captive is heard in the background pleading, "Please, please, don't hurt me". The flight attendant in the cockpit is then heard to say, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die" followed by one of the hijackers saying in Arabic: "Everything is fine. I finished."

At 9:39 air traffic controllers overheard a hijacker say, "Hi, this is the captain. I would like you all to remain seated. There is a bomb on board and are going back to the airport, and to have our demands [inaudible]. Please remain quiet." Air traffic controllers did not hear from the flight again. Passengers and crew began making phone calls to officials and family members starting at 09:30 using airphones and mobile phones. Altogether, the passengers and crew made 35 airphone calls and two cell phone calls from the flight. Tom Burnett made several phone calls to his wife beginning at 09:30. He explained that the plane had been hijacked by men claiming to have a bomb. He also said that a passenger had been knifed and that he believed the bomb threat was a ruse to control the passengers. During one of his calls, his wife informed him of the attacks on the World Trade Center and he replied that the hijackers were "talking about crashing this plane ... Oh my God. It's a suicide mission." He ended his last call by saying, "Don't worry, we're going to do something."

The passengers formulated a plan. They would use kitchen utensils, carts, and scalding hot water to attack the hijackers and take the plane back. At 09:57, the plan was set in motion, with Todd Beamer saying, “Let’s roll!”. At 09:58, the hijackers began to violently pitch and roll the aircraft to throw the passengers off-balance.

The cockpit voice recorder captured the sounds of crashing, screaming, and the shattering of glass. A hijacker is heard saying, "Is that it? Shall we finish it off?" Another hijacker responded, "No. Not yet. When they all come, we finish it off." A passenger in the background cried, "In the cockpit. If we don't, we'll die" at 10:00. Sixteen seconds later, another passenger yelled, "Roll it!" The plane ceased the violent maneuvers at 10:01 and a hijacker shouted Allah Akbar several times. He then asked another hijacker, "Is that it? I mean, shall we put it down?" The other hijacker responded, "Yes, put it in it, and pull it down." The passengers continued their assault and at 10:02, a hijacker said, "Pull it down! Pull it down!" The airplane descended with the yoke turned hard to the right. The airplane rolled onto its back, and one of the hijackers began shouting Allah Akbar. Amidst the sounds of the passenger counterattack, the aircraft, inverted and flying over 500 MPH, plowed into an abandoned strip mine field in Stonycreek, Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes' flying time from Washington, D.C.




[url][/url]

Count us in! Boss281(John) and myself(Laura).

I'M IN!!!!!!!!!

I'm in also.

Scott,
This looks like a great cruise! Count me in!

Count me in as well

count me in!

our mustang is going to be in the garage all season, and the gt is already committed to an event in OC that weekend. We may tag along in the fusion, Depending..

Bad news, CJ Pony Parts CAD, Aug 13 2011, you may want to re schedule.

CJ Pony Parts just announced their Customer Appreciation Day will be held on 13 Aug. So we don't conflict, the date of the cruise will be changed to another weekend in August. I need to check with the National Park Service first. As soon as I can set a new date, I'll post the update.

Awesome! I appreciate you guys taking the time and opportunity to change the dates. It would be great to do both events!

Sounds great. Let us know when the new date will be.

Just and FYI, the following weekend of the 13th(20th), that is the week/weekend the motorcycles will be doing their 9/11 ride.

Maybe do this the weekend of the 6th?......

Any updates on this?

It was updated for the 6th and 7th. He edited it in his first post.

Thanks Bob! I didn't even think to look......duh!!!

I'm going to pass this on to a couple other clubs.

Great! Thank you!

Count me in for this! What a great cause!

That weekend is still a go for me

Yup! The date was updated, which also meant that I had to update the Park Service permit and clear with them. We are working on a wreath to lay, and I'm also working on some window stickers to commemorate the cruise. Next, we'll work on a head count for those who are interested in staying so we can get a block of discount rooms. This will be a great cruise! The Park Service is really excited to host us! If you coordinate with other groups, please have them give me a point of contact and drop me a line. I need to let the Park Service know how many people and cars to expect. Also, I'm working on a police escort. Should be a great time and a wonderful way to pay tribute to our heroes. If anyone has any ideas, lemme know! Scott

I have a one-page flier available for distribution. Drop me a line at heroescruise@verizon.net and I'll send it out.

I have posted this on Northern Virginia Mustang Club's website. I will keep you guys updated with folks that are interested.

Thanx Laura!

OK I added it to the calender.

As of now still in for the day trip.