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| An artist’s rendering of The Tower of Voices, which is a ninety-three feet tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members of Flight 93. The intent is to create a set of forty tones (voices) that can connote through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while also through dissonance recalling the event that consecrated the site. (Artwork courtesy of bioLinia and Paul Murdoch Architects.) |
SOMERSET, PA. – The fourth annual Walk 93 will take place this Saturday, September 22 during National Public Lands Day. Pets are welcome to join their pet families for the memorial walk as Flight 93 National Memorial works towards launching its very first “Bark Ranger Program.” Participants will also have an opportunity to view the new Flight 93 film produced by Wild Excellence Films in the Learning Center before the walk begins.
Family member Deborah Borza will once again speak to event participants in the Learning Center before the ranger-led walk down the memorial’s 2.28-mile trail network begins. The immersive program will include interpretive stops along the trail to tell the story of the 40 brave passenger and crew members. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the Visitor Center as well as see the newly dedicated Tower of Voices after the walk concludes. Borza’s daughter, Deora Frances Bodley, was the youngest passenger on board United Flight 93 at just 20 years old.
This year, nearly 150 participants are registered for the walk which is raising funds to support the development of a picnic pavilion area at the memorial in 2019. Although registration is closed, individuals may support the walk remotely as a virtual walker by donating the $25 registration fee through the Friends of Flight 93 website at https://www.flight93friends.org/donate, just leave the comment “Walk 93” at the bottom of the donation page. Title sponsors for this year’s walk include FedEx Ground and UPMC Health Plan.
New this year, participants were able to select a team captain to walk with. The Friendly competition with sponsors, local businesses and groups on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter helped to increase event participation and spread the walk message around local communities. The team captain with the most walkers will be recognized on event day and receive a special prize from the Walk 93 team!
Registration is from 8:00-9:00 am. This walk is non-competitive and meant to encourage reflection about the events of September 11, 2001. Rangers and event staff will offer insight into the architectural design of the memorial, the living memorial landscape and sustainable initiatives at Flight 93 including the new honey bee home project.
The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, National Park Service, and Leadership Somerset County are asking the community to join them and “walk to remember” on September 22. This event is a way to pay tribute to the 40 Heroes, raise awareness and foster volunteerism, membership and stewardship at the memorial.
