May 2, 2011

Today is a gray day at the Lake, with rain and thunderstorms predicted. This morning we went to the Crash Sight. I have long since lost count of the number of times that I have been there.

It does seem to be more and more difficult to get there as time moves forward. From a simple tribute in Shankesville to a National Park. The construction, the Federal takeover, the formality of it today. Perhaps tomorrow it will be a beautiful tribute to those brave 40 who gave their lives, but somehow the simplicity, the "human factor" seems to have been lost.

My home is not much more than a mile, as the crow flies, from the impact sight, but the drive to today's entrance is more like five miles. Five miles, by the sights of two former temporary memorials, and the now closed Skyline Drive, which very nearly leads right to the impact point.

I'm sure you know why we went today of all days, the day after the news of Bin Laden's death. There were six satellite news trucks there, plus numerous other news organization vehicles. There were definitely more Park Rangers visible. The crowd was heavier than I expect a 'normal' Monday morning would have, not overwhelm but a steady flow of visitors. The local newspapers' front pages were on the fence shouting the news. A Navy Seal's towel with the word "HOOYAH" across the bottom had been fastened to the fence. A young man and woman, with red, white, and blue head and chest bands had a board on which it said "I did not forget". They offer you the opportunity to sign your name, or leave a short message, shades of how this memorial started. We passed.

We came without camera, with no agenda, we came and we observed. We observed the construction, but mainly we observed that flag off in the distance where Flight 93 impacted the ground on that morning that will never be forgotten, September 11, 2001.

Nothing more need be said.