Sen. McCain Visits Shanksville Crash Site
By JESSICA VANDERKOLKArticle Photos
SHANKSVILLE, Pa. - Though the presidential candidates stepped away from their campaigns Thursday to remember those who died Sept. 11, 2001, politics was still on the minds of those who drove to this rural spot in Somerset County where 40 people died seven years ago.
Attendees anticipated Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's appearance at the memorial service for United Flight 93 passengers and crew, who saved their hijacked plane from its intended target in Washington, D.C. It crashed in a field here, now marked with an American flag.
A temporary memorial stands across the road from the crash site, awaiting the construction of a permanent memorial in time for the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in 2011.
McCain, an Arizona senator, and his wife, Cindy, arrived at the site in time to speak to the families of the Flight 93 victims before bells tolled after the reading of each name. A bright sun broke through the overcast sky by the end of the ceremony.
McCain spoke briefly during the service and greeted members of the public afterward before leaving Pennsylvania for New York City, where he was expected to appear at the World Trade Center site with Democratic opponent Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois.
"No American living should ever forget the heroism that occurred in the skies above this field Sept. 11, 2001," McCain began. "I have witnessed great courage and sacrifice for America's sake, but none greater than the sacrifice of those good people who grasped the gravity of the moment, understood the threat and decided to fight back at the cost of their lives."
Noreen Grimm of Avonmore in Westmoreland County, Pa., made the trip knowing she would see McCain in person for the first time. She sported patriotic tennis shoes, a McCain/Sarah Palin button and carried a homemade sign "Hockey Moms for McCain and Palin," a reference to Alaska Gov. Palin's self-identification during her vice presidential campaign.
Grimm's own son played hockey for 20 years. "I can relate to her," she said.
Grimm said she was asked to put away the sign, as the service was not a political rally. She placed it inside her coat and said she didn't mind much, as she also was seeing the memorial for the first time.
"It was very moving," she said. "My son works at Seven Springs (Mountain Resort), and I've never taken the time to come up and see it."
The resort is about an hour from the crash site and was the location where McCain chose to spend the night Wednesday.
Lisa Tomlinson and her fiance, Ted Colledge of Sproul, Pa., reflected on the state of the world today as they remembered those who died at the site.
"We came for reflection and to appreciate what we have," said Tomlinson, who admitted she cried on the way there Thursday. "It's a very emotional day."
Colledge said the day was for selflessness and remembering others, despite personal difficulty.
"During these difficult times with the middle class, instead of saying 'woe is me,' it's Sept. 11 and these people were civilian heroes," he said. "It puts it in perspective what a great country we live in. We'll see it through these troubled times. We'll be all right."
Despite recent surgery, Colledge said he had no excuse not to come.
Dawn Smith of Johnstown, Pa., said she also likes Palin and can relate to the vice presidential candidate. She conversed with Tomlinson and Colledge about the candidates, discussing uncertainty this election year and the probability of voting for the Republican ticket, despite being registered as a Democrat.
This was the first year Smith visited the Flight 93 memorial on an anniversary, though she's visited twice a year since 2001. Victims' names are carved into benches as part of the memorial, and Flight 93 ambassadors staff the memorial daily and provide biographical information on the passengers and crew. Smith's goal is to sit on every bench and learn each victim's story.
While she said the New York and Pentagon attack sites also are important, she believes Pennsylvania's site is different.
"I feel everybody should be here," she said. "These people went down fighting. They tried to do something. These people were heroes fighting evil in the air."
McCain expressed a similar sentiment.
"In the Gospel of John it is written, 'Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends,'" he said. "Such was their love; a love so sublime that only God's love surpasses it. I am in awe of it as much as I am in debt to it. May God bless their souls."
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EllisWyatt
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09-13-08 8:55 AM
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Why didn't the media and the politicians state the facts? From watching the media, you would never have known that Muslims attacked us and murdered 3,000 Americans on that tragic day. Are they afraid of offending Muslims? Let me say it: On September 11, 2001, 19 MUSLIMS hi-jacked 4 US aircraft and MURDERED 3,000 + US citizens in the name of ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!
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SphinxRising58
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09-12-08 6:50 PM
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Nice that he has time to visit the crash sight now that he isa running for Persident of the United States of America, but where was he when it went down ? If anyone believes his visit is for anything other than show, they need help.
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Destroyallmonsters
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09-12-08 5:49 PM
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Oh my, ktbass has been the voice of reason the past couple days. I think I need to lie down. :} But seriously, he/she is absolutely right, lets please keep politics out of 9/11 threads.
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TruthSeeker
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09-12-08 2:00 PM
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What?! McCain spent the night at Seven Springs???!!! On the house I wonder?! And in answer to toughlove, McCain didn't make the trip to honor or respect anyone but himself or he would have done so before he was running for prez.
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Destroyallmonsters
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09-12-08 11:12 AM
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toughlove, nice try troll. Obama and McCain were both at ground zero together. Take your lies elsewhere. There is no need for your lies or political hit jobs in a thread about 9/11.
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bevie79
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09-12-08 10:06 AM
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Actually, it was a wonderful tribute to the people of Flight 93 that Sen. McCain took the time to go there and pay his respects. And if you read the article, he went from ther to New York and together the two candidates went to the Memorial of the World Trade Center. The news said the laid flowers together at the sight! It was very commendable that Both candidates put their campaigns on hold to remember the people who sadly lost their lives that day. We CANNOT Let the Patriotism die out in this country. We Will Never Forget.....
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toughlove
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09-12-08 10:00 AM
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I find it interesting that McCain made the trek to Pennsylvania while Obama was in New York holed up with Bill Clinton trying to figure out how to win the presidency. Goes to show you the priorities of these two candidates doesn't it?
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