Virginia teens, local groups volunteer to plant trees at Flight 93 memorial

Apr. 27—SHANKSVILLE, Pa. — Volunteers from 11 groups began planting trees and shrubs Friday at Flight 93 National Memorial for the annual Day of Caring.

Local groups invited teenagers from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Unity Reed High School in Manassas, Virginia, to lend a hand at the memorial near Shanksville.

"It's such a great feeling to be where history happened, even though it was such a solemn event," said 17-year-old Benjamin Jensen.

Another ROTC member, Serenity Fraser, said being able to help out was a great opportunity.

"I love contributing to things like this," she said.

Being at the memorial held dual meaning for Fraser, she said.

Her grandfather was scheduled to be on board United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County when passengers and crew fought back against hijackers during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Fortunately, his trip was canceled, she added.

The teenagers were brought to the memorial through The 9:57 Project, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting veterans and students and sharing the bravery and legacy of the passengers and crew of Flight 93.

Teacher Peter Findler, of Virginia, co-founded the group with his friend, U.S. Army pilot John Hamilton, after he invited Hamilton to his classroom to talk to students about military service.

Findler said he's brought several groups of students to the memorial throughout the past 10 years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, The 9:57 Project has began focusing on service projects such as tree-plantings.

"This is an amazing opportunity for young people to serve," he said.

Volunteers met in the overflow parking lot below the memorial's Visitor Center to hear from organizers and get their assignments before being shuttled off to plant more than 500 trees and shrubs — red oaks, elderberry, sassafras, winterberry, pin oak and more.

The saplings and bushes were planted inside 30-by-30-foot fences to prevent damage caused by the area's large deer population.

"I really do want to thank each and every one of you for being here," National Park Service Western Pennsylvania Superintendent Stephen Clark told the group.

Donna Gibson, Friends of Flight 93 executive director, said she looks forward to the annual Day of Caring each year. It was previously a tree-planting day for reforestation efforts at the memorial, but when that project was completed, the group continued with a rebranding.

Gibson said the event is the culmination of National Parks Week, from April 20 through Sunday; Earth Day, this past Monday; Arbor Day, which was Friday; and National Volunteer Week, from Sunday to Saturday.

In total, there were more than 100 volunteers at the park from area companies including Leonardo DRS, Somerset Trust Co. and Concurrent Technologies Corp.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and Green Forests Work served as team leads.

"This is truly heartwarming for me, especially on a cold day," Ken Nacke said. His brother, Louis J. "Joey" Nacke, died on Flight 93, and he's been involved in preserving the site and the memories of those who died there.

Becky Karlovick, from S&T Bank, said she signed up to volunteer because she enjoys supporting the community and giving back. Kathy Ward, her coworker, said it was her first time at the park, and added that she's a strong supporter of never forgetting the 9/11 attacks and helping preserve the stories of those who died.

For Henry Cook, former Somerset Trust Co. CEO, volunteering at the memorial held a personal meaning since he was involved in the design of the site.

"Volunteering is part of what western Pennsylvania is all about," he said.

Gibson told the volunteers about the new Resiliency Project, which will help replenish the trees planted in the 40 memorial groves at the site.

"The trees are just not thriving the way we want," she said.

Clark said that 1,600 trees planted there did not develop in the way experts had hoped, and about 800 trees near the Visitor Center had to be culled to start again.

To help future saplings thrive, scientists and other experts are being brought in for soil remediation and better irrigation.

The Friends of Flight 93 group is now raising $1 million toward this effort and expects the project to take place throughout the next eight to 10 years.

For more information, visit www.flight93friends.org.