9/11 Cross Dedicated Near Flight 93 Site

2-Ton Cross Made From World Trade Center Steel Finds Home In Pa.

(AP)  As hundreds of firefighters bowed their heads in prayer, a cross made out of steel from the World Trade Center was dedicated Sunday near where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into the ground on Sept. 11.

The 2-ton, 14-foot high cross sits on a concrete base shaped like the Pentagon at the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Co., just a few miles from where the plane crashed into a field. The cross made a 311-mile journey from Brooklyn on Saturday, accompanied by hundreds of motorcyclists, many of them current or retired New York firefighters.

"We wanted to find a home for this steel," said Paddy Concannon, a retired lieutenant from the Fire Department of New York. "This is an effort on our part to tie the three events together: the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville."

The cross is not part of the official $58 million Flight 93 National Memorial. That memorial will be built in phases and is expected to about 40 percent complete by the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Shanksville Chief Terry Shaffer said the cross dedicated Sunday would serve as inspiration whenever his department responds to a call.

"I couldn't have dreamed this would turn out any better, all the brotherhood coming down from New York and New Jersey and showing up here today to pay their respect to this piece of steel," Shaffer said.

Gary Sims, a firefighter with New York's Ladder 22, was among those in the motorcycle escort and said he took part "to help carry the word," of Flight 93. The crash killed the 40 passengers and crew members onboard.

Among those attending the ceremony was Patty Sumner, of Martinsburg, whose firefighter brother, Joseph Girard Leavey, died in the south tower. He had been on the 78th floor and his body was recovered more than a month later, on the day he was to take his captain's test, she said.

"I'm in heaven," she said after the ceremony, during which the names of the victims were read aloud. "I was very happy that everyone was able to get together."

Flight 93, which was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, was the only one of the four planes hijacked that day that did not reach its intended target, believed to be in Washington, D.C.

Investigators believe the hijackers crashed the plane into a field near rural Shanksville, about 65 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, as passengers rushed the cockpit.

[swwils]

I can not believe all the critic''s that I have seen on the web,about this cross.I realize all the passengers probably were not Christian''s,but who care''s it is the thought that counts.If some other organized religion wishes to put something their I am sure the Government would allow that also.Sometimes I think some people just gripe to be a gripe.

[fibonacci_89]

Interesting, but that is clearly a different piece of metal if you look at the pictures. I find it a little amusing personally how you Christians take that as "a sign from Christ" - give me a break you know? How many crosses are there in any high-rise?

[cattlekate]

"melted beams that accidentally ended up looking like a cross in the debris."

You have to be kidding. LOOL.
Posted by fibonacci_89 at 01:01 PM : Aug 25, 2008

No, really. Look here:

http://www.september11news.com/Mysteries1.htm

But I just looked up this story on google and see it is just a small man-made cross.

[fibonacci_89]

To be honest it doesn''t upset me thaaat much. A little bit for sure. I just wish you religious people would stop stuffing your imaginary friend down our throats. Some of us don''t believe in God, you know! And you write it on our money now - whats the deal, you know? I think I will start writing "not all of us" on all my bills under "In God we Trust".

[noloyalisti]

I can''t believe Bushoccio and his neo con men crime family did this 911 thing. Oh, they''re real sad laughing all the way to the White House (and on the way, to the bank).

By the way, jet fuel doesn''t melt steel, sorry.

[winslowe1]

At least they could have erected a monument with some kind of meaning.

[fibonacci_89]

"melted beams that accidentally ended up looking like a cross in the debris."

You have to be kidding. LOOL.

[cattlekate]

My friend who was on that flight was a jew.

But I don''t mind the cross. I think these are the melded beams that accidentally ended up looking like a cross in the debris.

[shameonbush]

The McCain crowd cheers to hear this news, that a cross made out of steel from the World Trade Center was dedicated to flight 93. It was probably Mr. Rich McCain, who doesn''t even know how many houses he owns though asked twice, who funded it. The Republicans try to win votes by mentioning 911. Clever. However, it really makes me sick how much they have profited off of dead people. Shouldn''t the World Trade Center steel be examined for traces of explosives before we melt it and turn it into crosses? Just a thought.

[fibonacci_89]

A nice symbol with religious origins.