I think all the late nights and early mornings finally caught up with me. Knowing I didn't have to get up early, and we had no major plans today, I slept in this morning. The sound of family coming into the house and getting breakfast going finally got me out of bed.
After running some errands around the big town of Altoona we decided to head over the mountain to the crash site of Flight 93. I have been to ground zero and was curious how this would compare. Obviously it doesn't receive the coverage that NYC does, but it was a great trip non the less.
We pulled into the parking lot for the temporary memorial site and found a spot. It was just at 5:30 and the sun was just about ready to set. There were others at the memorial as well. Right now the memorial is a small fenced in area with a shelter containing books showing pictures and dialouge of what happened that day. Outside there is a wall made of wood and chain link fencing where people have left t-shirts, hats, liscence plates, toy box cars, and all sorts of other memorabilia to honor these people. Around the fecncing were lots of stone monuments that reminded me of headstones. In the far corner flew the American flag next to a rugged cross. Down the center of the memorial sat benches. On each plank of the back of the bench was a name of someone who was on Flight 93. We sat for a few minutes on these benches. All was silent. The sun was low in the sky, peaking out behind a few clouds. The breeze blew, snapping the flags overhead. Birds flew overhead, calling. It was a reminder to me that this is the middle of a field. Off to the left is the farm house and buildings. I'm sure their world has changed since that day in 2001.
After running some errands around the big town of Altoona we decided to head over the mountain to the crash site of Flight 93. I have been to ground zero and was curious how this would compare. Obviously it doesn't receive the coverage that NYC does, but it was a great trip non the less.
We pulled into the parking lot for the temporary memorial site and found a spot. It was just at 5:30 and the sun was just about ready to set. There were others at the memorial as well. Right now the memorial is a small fenced in area with a shelter containing books showing pictures and dialouge of what happened that day. Outside there is a wall made of wood and chain link fencing where people have left t-shirts, hats, liscence plates, toy box cars, and all sorts of other memorabilia to honor these people. Around the fecncing were lots of stone monuments that reminded me of headstones. In the far corner flew the American flag next to a rugged cross. Down the center of the memorial sat benches. On each plank of the back of the bench was a name of someone who was on Flight 93. We sat for a few minutes on these benches. All was silent. The sun was low in the sky, peaking out behind a few clouds. The breeze blew, snapping the flags overhead. Birds flew overhead, calling. It was a reminder to me that this is the middle of a field. Off to the left is the farm house and buildings. I'm sure their world has changed since that day in 2001.
We started our trip back home. All six of us squeezed into the pickup. The colors are really starting to change and the view out the windows was amazing. Such brilliant reds and oranges.
Now we are back at Cody's. We're all checked in for our flight home tomrrow, directions back to Baltimore are written down, and we are settling in for what will hopefully be a great Monday Night Football game between the Steeler and the Ravens. The trip is coming to a close. It has been a great weekend full of family and fun, moments and memories to last a lifetime. I don't want to leave, but I am ready to go home.
Now we are back at Cody's. We're all checked in for our flight home tomrrow, directions back to Baltimore are written down, and we are settling in for what will hopefully be a great Monday Night Football game between the Steeler and the Ravens. The trip is coming to a close. It has been a great weekend full of family and fun, moments and memories to last a lifetime. I don't want to leave, but I am ready to go home.
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