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Flight 93 Memorial Visitors Talk About 'United 93' Movie

POSTED: 6:02 pm EDT April 27, 2006
UPDATED: 6:34 pm EDT April 27, 2006

The release of the movie "United 93" this weekend is sure to bring up a lot of different emotions for a lot of different people -- especially those who work so hard to make the Shanksville memorial a success.

They'll finally have the opportunity to see at least one version of a story that brings so many people to Shanksville every year.

"Don't ever think that a decision you make only affects you. It affects everybody around you, and may affect the whole world," said Mary Alice Mankamyer.

Mankamyer has been volunteering as a memorial ambassador -- or a guide -- at the Somerset County memorial site for almost five years at least once a week.

She and about 40 other ambassadors have been invited by family members of Flight 93 victims to join them at the Richland Theater Friday night. Together, they'll watch the premier of "United 93."

"I know it's going to be hard, very difficult. I still get very emotional lots of time just coming here speaking with people. And you just have to take a break, you know. I'm looking forward to it because I'm hoping it gives me more information that what we know," Mankamyer said.

The film reels have arrived at the Cambia County movie theater. That's just about 20 minutes from the crash site. Its largest room is prepped to handle what's expected to be one of its largest crowds ever.

Back at the site, the talk is less about the movie and more about the creation of a permanent memorial.

"I'm very concerned about the representative whose holding up the funding for the memorial here. He should really think about what he's doing," said memorial visitor Jay Toigo. "A lot of people come here. Look at the sign-in sheet -- people come from all over the country to this."

And memorial supporters are hoping those same people will flock to the box office this weekend. They'll receive 10 percent of the proceeds collected in the first three days of the release.

That money will go toward the completion of the memorial, which is scheduled to be done on the 10-year anniversary -- Sept. 11, 2011.

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