SHANKSVILLE, Pa. -- A Tuesday morning ceremony honoring the victims of Flight 93, near the spot where the plane went down in Somerset County, included appearances by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Gov. Ed Rendell.

---

Related: National Coverage Of 9/11 Anniversary In New York And Washington

---

The ceremony near Shanksville began at 9:55 a.m. -- the time that the flight crashed into a field after being hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

To remember the 33 passengers and seven crew members who died, a bell was tolled for each one of those victims. Each victim's name was read aloud, too.

More than 500 visitors parked in a muddy field and walked up a small path to the temporary memorial site, which is marked with small, metallic, red-white-and-blue angels -- one for each of the victims.

"I don't know," said Mark Boyle, the brother of Colleen Fraser, who was killed in the crash. "I just do what I have to do to get here. That's all."

Fraser dedicated her life to helping people and was a lobbyist for the disabled. Her family is certain she and her fellow passengers helped to keep the terrorist from hitting the White House.

"These are our heroes," said Fraser's sister, Kay Roy. "And I'm glad that my sister was one of those heroes. She's always been there for other people."

"Our hearts go out to the families and the crew member and the passengers of Flight 93," said Dave Andrews of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. "It's just an honor to be here to pay tribute to ones who lost their lives for our freedom."

"You have my admiration, you have my love and you have my promise that we will continue to work every single day to protect the people of this country, all in the name of those who perished heroically on Flight 93 six years ago," Chertoff said to the family members, first responders and spectators in attendance.

Rendell pledged to support efforts for a permanent memorial at the site, which is currently marked by a chain-link fence on which small flags, signs and other mementos are attached.

"It is important that this memorial become a reality," Rendell said. "We will make this happen."

Also, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a Flight 93 pictorial postmark at the Shanksville Post Office. It will be available for 30 days.

Other 9/11 services around western Pennsylvania include:

First Presbyterian Church, downtown Pittsburgh, 12:15 p.m.
Ben Avon Fire Department, 9:45 a.m.
World Trade Center memorial, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 8:30 a.m.
Veterans Place, Connellsville, 10 a.m.
Veterans Park gazebo, Mount Pleasant, 7 p.m.

---

Related Links:
More County News

Get RSS | E-Mail Alerts

---