The following is a guest post by Gerry Greene, a friend and poet who, along with his wife, recently visited the memorial to Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
As we remember the devastation, the losses, the courage and the lessons learned that day for our country, I thought it would be fitting to share his touching tribute.
The Martyrs on Flight 93
I opened the door for my wife and followed her onto the concrete deck, overlooking the valley of sacrifice.
She took my hand as she stepped onto the hard packed gravel path between the newly planted memorial trees.
We walked in silence as tears evaporated slowly in gentle breeze.
The miniscule stones crunched beneath our feet with a reassuring sound, on this two mile circle of love for the patriotic
martyrs on flight 93.
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| The Wall of Names |
The building behind us with long lines of people told the story of heros at this place,
with recordings and pictures of grownups and children, who flew in that plane on that 9/11 day.
One wife told her husband, "Be brave" on the cell phone, just before he ended the call.
He then stood and confronted the evil intruders who held captive the
martyrs on flight 93.
We walked for a mile toward the left and around the large circle that led us to the now hallowed ground.
The foot bridge over water, representing to me technology of flight to benefit man,
delivered us to the remote parking lot, for those unable to make the mile-long walk.
A few yards further stood the wall of remembrance with names of the
martyrs on flight 93.
I sat on a bench by a man who was resting--who seemed to be eager to make conversation.
He told of his friend from Hawaii, a lady, who flew from Pittsburgh on that warm fateful day.
A celebration journey was hers as she traveled, expanding her business with purchases of new products along the way,
not knowing she had joined these
martyrs on flight 93.
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| Memorial Boulder marks the point of impact |
In spite of the 16 year interval of silence, his pain for her surfaced as he talked of his friend,
and this was the first time he'd come to this place in her honor, while I listened in sorrow as he pointed to a boulder
beyond the white fence and told me of its purpose and what it represents.
The marker he said, is the point of their impact, of the
martyrs on flight 93.
I stood in silence before a name on the wall and the woman to my left began talking to me.
She told of the man that the marble slab represented and of his friendship to her extended family.
This was no longer just a name chisled on the wall, but a person of kindness who made a difference now affecting me.
I grieved with this lady as she suffered while thinking of the heroic
martyrs on flight 93.
We finished the walk on the gravel without speaking, as it wound through black-eyed susans and wild flowers surrounding
the
path to the building at the top of the hill. A wall of stone stood next
to the building--showing the direction of the flight path that day.
My mind tried to process emerging emotions as I lingered, looking back at the precious memorial of
martyrs on flight 93.
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| Wildflower Meadow behind boulder |
copyright Gerald E. Greene, 2017
Takeaway: Please pray for the peace of our nation, and for an end to radical Islamic terrorism (and all terrorism), so no more events such as those that occurred on 9/11 will happen again.
Blessings,
Linore
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