Flight 93 memorial attendees aim to foster knowledge in future generations

Sep. 11—Connie Hasenei stood strong under the dark, gray clouds covering Somerset County Sunday morning, her message ringing clear: Keep the memory of Sept. 11, 2001, alive.

Hasenei, speaking to a crowd gathered on a rain-soaked field at the Flight 93 National Memorial to honor the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks that rocked the nation, carefully weaved the story of her great aunt, Patricia Cushing, who was aboard United Airlines Flight 93 when it was taken over by hijackers that morning.

Cushing was one of 40 passengers and crew members who fought against the hijackers, crashing the plane into the field near Shanksville.

Hasenei, who was 2 years old that year, doesn't remember much of her aunt, but knows the important role Cushing played that morning and the crucial need to keep that story alive.

"My generation does not remember the day of Sept. 11, 2001," Hasenei said. "We were taught little pieces in school and heard little bits on the news once a year. Because of my connection to Flight 93, I am more aware of what happened that day and feel I have a huge responsibility being part of the younger generation that has a personal connection not only to the 9/11 attacks but specifically to Flight 93."

The need to teach younger generations of how Sept. 11 changed the nation forever was a common theme throughout the event, which featured speakers like First Lady Jill Biden, memorial volunteers, military personnel and others.

Despite the weather, a few hundred community members attended the event, covered by rain ponchos, umbrellas and boots.

The crowd remained solemn throughout the program as the names of those who died aboard the flight were read aloud at 10:03 a.m., the time the plane crashed, followed by the ringing of a bell. Some names were read by family members, many of whom became emotional as they identified their loved ones, calling them "sister," "husband" and "brother."

"9/11 touched us all," Biden said. "It changed us all. But it reminds us that, with courage and kindness, we can be a light in that darkness. It showed us that we are all connected to one another so, as we stand on this sacred and scarred earth, a record of our collective grief and a monument to the memories that live on in us each day — this is the legacy we must carry forward.

"Hope that defies hate, love that defies loss and the ties that hold us together through it all."

Authorities believe those aboard United Flight 93 took a vote and fought back against their hijackers after learning of three other plane crashes in New York City and at the Pentagon that morning in a coordinated terrorist attack.

Flight 93 crashed in an empty Stonycreek Township field, preventing further loss of life as the aircraft's likely target was in Washington, D.C.

In her speech, Biden talked of the pain her sister, Bonny Jacobs, a United Airlines flight attendant, felt that day and how Biden had gone to her house to comfort her while she worked through the loss of not only colleagues, but friends.

"You all have stories, too, of that moment, of that day, of how its legacy has rippled through your lives." Biden said. "You have stories of loss, of last phone calls and waiting for news that you didn't want to be seeing. Of hands that you will never hold again and voices that you only long to hear. You have stories of pride, of the heroes who stood up to terror despite the danger."

Other speakers included Stephen M. Clark, superintendent of the Flight 93 National Memorial; Ginny Barnett, a volunteer ambassador; Deb Haaland, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Or'L'Simcha Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, which saw tragedy in 2018.

"We gather today to remember what was, what is and what will never be," said Myers, who was leading Shabbat services for Tree of Life in 2018 when a gunman walked in an opened fire, killing 11 people. "We recall the sacrifice of 40 air travelers who epitomize the home of the brave so that we can live in the land of the free."

Myers continued, stating that a generation has been born that did not experience Sept. 11, 2001.

Now, those who experienced that day must work to keep the memory alive "with this next generation so that, through them, our loved ones continue to live."

Following the roughly hour-long event, attendees lingered, learning more about the heroic efforts of those on Flight 93 and reminiscing on the heaviness of the day.

Nate Meade, of Allison Park, said it was his first time visiting the memorial.

"I was in ninth grade when this happened, so I do remember it but coming here it kind of brings it back," Meade said. "It's humbling to see the amount of people 21 years later that still come out and remember this. That's important for continuing that and passing that along to the generations that haven't been here."

Jason Brengman, of Columbus, Ohio, attended the memorial with his 15-year-old son, Zane.

"It's very important and it's important of us, my wife and I, to share with Zane who wasn't alive and doesn't know anything about it to get a feel for what it was, what it meant and why it was important," Brengman said. "It's important for us to remember and honor these people so that's why we came."

Zane agreed, saying he was honored to attend the event.

"Not being alive (then), I don't have the full understanding of what maybe he has, what my mom has," he said. "It's a very good experience I think for me to be here and to kind of understand a little more because they don't necessarily teach it in school. You see it maybe once a year and once on the news so it's a very honorable thing and a very good thing to be here."

Megan Tomasic is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan by email at mtomasic@triblive.com or via Twitter .