Last month the Gary Sinise Foundation and the 957 Project hosted a group of high school students at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA. Please watch the video embedded below to learn about the experience... then read this excerpt of a speech one of the students delivered at his school assembly on 9/11 to see the impact these experiences are making. #neverforget #letsroll
"The events of September 11, 2001, had a significant impact on the United States and the world, including the way people viewed and valued the idea of brotherhood and sisterhood during and after the tragedy.
The first takeaway I had from the 9/11 trip with Mr. Findler was unselfish unity. At 9:57 a.m. on board Flight 93, ordinary passengers, in an act of unselfish unity, decided to take back their hijacked plane. Ordinary people from all walks of life from various backgrounds bonded together to storm the hijacked plane, knowing they were probably going to die doing so, yet they understood they would be saving thousands of lives if the plane did not continue on to its destination, the U.S Capital. Unselfishness and unity were displayed like no other on that fateful September morning.
The second takeaway was the idea of having sister and brotherhood. These actions were shown through those on Flight 93. Those on Flight 93 demonstrated brotherhood and sisterhood as they all came together to conquer the terrorists trying to take over their flight. When the news of the crash was public, no matter what race or religion people were, everybody cared for and helped one another. As a society today, there isn’t much of supporting one another or helping someone out; instead, we choose to judge or mistreat those who may look different, have different opinions on a topic, or have another belief, but that doesn’t make us any different from one another. So, seeing the brother and sisterhood that took place during and after 9/11 made me grasp a deeper understanding of the world’s unity at the time and the way people came together to help one another to make America stronger.
The last takeaway from the trip was the idea of being a hero in some way. Let me repeat it: being a hero. Seeing these heroic acts by those who did and did not survive 9/11 should influence each and every one of you to go out and be a hero in some way, not just in your community but the world. Be a hero by helping others, be a hero by showing kindness to one another, be a hero by seeking the challenge, be a hero by making a difference, be a hero by living an extraordinary life, be a hero who stands up for what is right, be the hero by having a positive attitude, be a hero by just simply making someone’s day, be a hero by picking up someone when they are down for we rise by lifting up others. In order to be remembered by those around you, you have to think to yourself, how can I leave some sort of a positive impact on the world and those around me? And by doing that, you have to be a HERO."
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September 11, 2001, is a day America will never forget. While under attack, our nation witnessed extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery. First responders rushed into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon, to save as many lives as possible, many losing their own in the process.
Thousands of miles above a rural field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the 40 brave passengers and crew of Flight 93 gave their lives to prevent another attack on our nation.
Last month, we had the honor of bringing high school students to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA. For these young Americans, it was a chance to experience and learn about the significance of 9/11 in person as history was brought to life.
Students were able to tour the Flight 93 Memorial and visit the Wall of Names, where they silently paid their respects to the heroes of Flight 93.
It is our sincere hope that this experience will inspire these students to do good in their own communities upon their return home.
Please take a moment to watch highlights from this event, including powerful testimonials from the students in attendance.