Temporary Memorial to Crew and Passengers - The volunteer told us that on September 11, she was at home in Shanksville, two miles away, working at her computer and watching the news on television of the attacks on the World Trade Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. She heard what sounded like a screeching engine in reverse and the sounds were so loud, she had to cover her ears. She didn't know what was happening and then her home began to rumble from the ground up. She ran out of her house fearful as she had no idea of what could be happening. When she got outside, there was only silence.

Two miles in the other direction of the crash site, her husband, a teacher, at the local school that housed K - 12 said that it was a warm September day and the windows of most classrooms were open. Suddenly, they also heard a loud sound and children on the top floor of the building saw the plane going down. From the impact, windows slammed down and doors blew open and the building also began to shake. Had the plane crashed 2 seconds earlier, the school would have been in its path. The plane was 20 minutes from Washington, D.C.

The temporary memorial has an area where people leave personal items or write notes in remembrance of those souls who make an incredibly brave decision to try and overtake the terrorist so others would not become victims. Benches with the names of the crew and passengers is another memorial to them. There is a small building that has photos and stories about the event, and a book that has a picture and small biography of each crew member and passenger. Reading the biographies makes you realize even more that these people were no different than your family and your neighbors and your friends--just going about there daily business.

Being at the site is a profound experience and it is heartbreaking all over again.