Visited Flight 93 Memorial and the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site today.

[fairgambit]

They are only about 10 miles apart. Both were well worth the visit. Each was inspiring, reflecting the best of the American spirit, but you look at them differently because on Flight 93 everyone died and at Quecreek everyone survived. There were a lot of tears at Flight 93, including my own. At Quecreek, a lady spent an hour telling us about the events and sharing a lot of information I never knew or had forgotten. Flight 93 was free. Quecreek was $7.00. If you are in the area, take time to stop. You'll be glad you did.

 

[MJG-90]

I’ve been to the flight 93 Memorial. It’s very well thought out. Definitely worth your time if you’re in the area.

 

[bison13]

The family that owned the land of the 93 site was my sister's room mate at PSU at the time.

 

[Carl Spackler]

We visited flight 93 three times, twice before the govt. got a hold of it (far better experience with locals manning the memorial and sharing the days events) and once after the national memorial was completed, The new memorial is fine but our individual experience was much better at the original memorial site.

I did not know the Quecreek memorial was that close by so we will have to put it on our next trip through.

 

[fairgambit]

We visited flight 93 three times, twice before the govt. got a hold of it (far better experience with locals manning the memorial and sharing the days events) and once after the national memorial was completed, The new memorial is fine but our individual experience was much better at the original memorial site.

I did not know the Quecreek memorial was that close by so we will have to put it on our next trip through.

It's 10-12 miles away at the farm where the whole event unfolded. The mine, of course, is underneath. It's run by a non-profit organization and it's not well marked when you get there. We saw the statue, shown below, and saw no one around, so we almost left. Just a hundred feet up the road from the statue is a building and the lady inside saw us and came running out. She led us inside the building and there were only 4 other visitors there. She then gave a very interesting 1 hour presentation on the event. In the building are things like the actual capsule the men came up in, equipment used in the rescue, photos, etc. It is small but we learned a lot. I'm not sure what their hours are so you may want to check on line or call ahead. I think the presentation is only given at certain times.
http://www.quecreekrescue.org

 

[Fayette_LION]

They are only about 10 miles apart. Both were well worth the visit. Each was inspiring, reflecting the best of the American spirit, but you look at them differently because on Flight 93 everyone died and at Quecreek everyone survived. There were a lot of tears at Flight 93, including my own. At Quecreek, a lady spent an hour telling us about the events and sharing a lot of information I never knew or had forgotten. Flight 93 was free. Quecreek was $7.00. If you are in the area, take time to stop. You'll be glad you did.

I've been to both and the Flight 93 memorial is very tough on you. So many innocent lives lost and so much personal information about each individual. The tears water the grass for sure, As far a Quecreek, I spent 77 hours there as part of the rescue crew. It's a much easier (less emotional) place to visit and yes, it's not far away. The rescue drilling took place just below the farm house just off the road. It's much different than it was during the rescue. We had that entire bottom tore up with equipment everywhere. Very easy to visit both on the same day and well worth the visit.

 

[fairgambit]

I've been to both and the Flight 93 memorial is very tough on you. So many innocent lives lost and so much personal information about each individual. The tears water the grass for sure, As far a Quecreek, I spent 77 hours there as part of the rescue crew. It's a much easier (less emotional) place to visit and yes, it's not far away. The rescue drilling took place just below the farm house just off the road. It's much different than it was during the rescue. We had that entire bottom tore up with equipment everywhere. Very easy to visit both on the same day and well worth the visit.

Excellent post. The dedication and determination of the rescue crew to get the men out was critical to the happy ending at Quecreek. God bless you and your fellow rescuers.

 

[FHSPSU67]

We live approx. 20-25 miles from either site and have visited both prior to their final completion. We should revisit both this summer. Incidentally I grew up in a small mining town (Gray) approx. 3-4 miles from the Quecreek site, Also the town of Quecreek was known as Harrison then, and I played little league baseball against Harrison.

 

[BBG65]

As a little aside, the Flight 93 Memorial is nearby the Somerset WPRA [wild pheasant recovery area] and the couple times that I've been there, I've seen and heard a few ringnecks from the entrance road and parking area.

 

[BBrown]

We visited flight 93 three times, twice before the govt. got a hold of it (far better experience with locals manning the memorial and sharing the days events) and once after the national memorial was completed, The new memorial is fine but our individual experience was much better at the original memorial site.

I did not know the Quecreek memorial was that close by so we will have to put it on our next trip through.

+100.
I grew up there and my mom still lives between somerset and rockwood and what you said about the locals and befor the govt.
Took over us absolutely true. It seemed to be a more personal and reverent experience when the corner church was still there.
Ir will be interesting to see what happens when the great Allegheny passage trail is linked up with It.
Still though it’s something everyone should see.
I do like the idea of the bells/wind chimes.

 

[BBrown]

It's 10-12 miles away at the farm where the whole event unfolded. The mine, of course, is underneath. It's run by a non-profit organization and it's not well marked when you get there. We saw the statue, shown below, and saw no one around, so we almost left. Just a hundred feet up the road from the statue is a building and the lady inside saw us and came running out. She led us inside the building and there were only 4 other visitors there. She then gave a very interesting 1 hour presentation on the event. In the building are things like the actual capsule the men came up in, equipment used in the rescue, photos, etc. It is small but we learned a lot. I'm not sure what their hours are so you may want to check on line or call ahead. I think the presentation is only given at certain times.
http://www.quecreekrescue.org

I thought that the drill they used to Help them get out came from PSU?

 

[fairgambit]

I thought that the drill they used to Help them get out came from PSU?

You may well be right. I just don't recall.

 

[Fayette_LION]

I thought that the drill they used to Help them get out came from PSU?

It came from Center Rock, a small company in Berlin Pa. They are still in business and also were very heavily involved with the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners a few year ago. Great people very dedicated to the local area.

 

[psuro]

Been to the Flight 93 Memorial a couple of times. It's sobering visit and creates an emotional response from many of us who were cognizant of these events at the time they happened - along the same lines as Pearl Harbor is for those who lived through it, I would imagine.

 

[PSU73]

We visited flight 93 three times, twice before the govt. got a hold of it (far better experience with locals manning the memorial and sharing the days events) and once after the national memorial was completed, The new memorial is fine but our individual experience was much better at the original memorial site.

+100.
I grew up there and my mom still lives between somerset and rockwood and what you said about the locals and befor the govt.
Took over us absolutely true. It seemed to be a more personal and reverent experience when the corner church was still there.

I was there within the year after and have not been to the updated memorial. As noted, there was something very reverent and spiritual. There were things there from all over the world as people were reaching out with expressions of grief and sorrow. There was very little talk by the people there except for whispers. I wonder where are the things are that had been there. I'm sure things were still being placed there after I visited. As such, it was inevitable that something had to be done to improve access and address all the mementos.

 

[fairgambit]

I was there within the year after and have not been to the updated memorial. As noted, there was something very reverent and spiritual. There were things there from all over the world as people were reaching out with expressions of grief and sorrow. There was very little talk by the people there except for whispers. I wonder where are the things are that had been there. I'm sure things were still being placed there after I visited. As such, it was inevitable that something had to be done to improve access and address all the mementos.

It appears things have changed quite a bit since you were there and they continue to evolve. (See Tower of Voices posts below).

 

[paulrandythomas]

They are only about 10 miles apart. Both were well worth the visit. Each was inspiring, reflecting the best of the American spirit, but you look at them differently because on Flight 93 everyone died and at Quecreek everyone survived. There were a lot of tears at Flight 93, including my own. At Quecreek, a lady spent an hour telling us about the events and sharing a lot of information I never knew or had forgotten. Flight 93 was free. Quecreek was $7.00. If you are in the area, take time to stop. You'll be glad you did.

I had the honor of designing the foundation for the Tower of Voices, I would have done it for free (if not for the bosses). I cannot wait to see the end result, it should be both awesome and somber, more so the latter of course. Godspeed to the heroes on that plane.

 

[fairgambit]

I had the honor of designing the foundation for the Tower of Voices, I would have done it for free (if not for the bosses). I cannot wait to see the end result, it should be both awesome and somber, more so the latter of course. Godspeed to the heroes on that plane.

The Tower of Voices, under construction, will look something like this. It was well underway when we saw it yesterday and I think it will be breathtaking. Thank you for the part you played in the design.

 

[paulrandythomas]

The Tower of Voices, under construction, will look something like this. Thank you for the part you played in the design.

Step.eng, I know you’re curious, micropiles with a 3-4 foot cap. Battered on the perimeter, vertical in the center. That badboy can withstand anything. Only thing that will stand after Armageddon aside from that is the UP airport tower (whole another story).

 

[paulrandythomas]

The Tower of Voices, under construction, will look something like this. It was well underway when we saw it yesterday and I think it will be breathtaking. Thank you for the part you played in the design.

Thanks Fair, PSU engineering rules, although who cares on a project like this where the bigger picture is what really matters. Again, what an honor to have had the opportunity to be involved in something like this.

 

[fairgambit]

Thanks Fair, PSU engineering rules, although who cares on a project like this where the bigger picture is what really matters. Again, what an honor to have had the opportunity to be involved in something like this.

This board never ceases to amaze me. Fayette_LION was involved in the rescue at Quecreek. You were involved in the Tower of Voices foundation design at Flight 93. Others have noted they live, or have lived, in the area. Fascinating.

 

[AvgUser]

PSU73 said “reverent”.

I have not been to Flight93 but I did visit the OK City memorial. Reverent was the perfect way to describe it. I am sure the Flight 93 memorial is the same.

 

[PSU73]

It appears things have changed quite a bit since you were there and they continue to evolve. (See Tower of Voices posts below).

Indeed they have. I had heard from others who visited around the time as me, but saw no pictures. Thanks for adding them. I must say that the TOWER OF VOICES idea is and looks to be wonderful and fitting.

I had the honor of designing the foundation for the Tower of Voices, I would have done it for free (if not for the bosses). I cannot wait to see the end result, it should be both awesome and somber, more so the latter of course. Godspeed to the heroes on that plane.

You clearly were much more vested in the idea than others. Thanks for that. Wonder if you know: will the chimes be solely dependent on the wind? If so, do you know at what speed the wind would need to be to have them "chime"? I would hope the concept allows that they will never be silent.

EDITED: I visited the NPS webpage and see that chimes will be wind activated. For anyone interested, here's a copy of the page:

Tower of Voices Project Description

Overview
The Tower of Voices (TOV) serves as both a visual and audible reminder of the heroism of the forty passengers and crew of United Flight 93. On September 09, 2018 Flight 93 National Memorial will host a dedication event to complete the final phase of construction and complete the permanent memorial.

The TOV is conceived as a monumental, ninety-three feet tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members. It is intended to be a landmark feature near the memorial entrance, visible from US Route 30/Lincoln Highway. The Tower of Voices will provide a living memorial in sound to remember the forty through their ongoing voices.

The TOV project will be constructed from 2017 to 2018 with a dedication of the project around the September 11 ceremony in 2018. Funding for the design and construction of the project is provided through private donations to the National Park Foundation and the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial.

Uniqueness of Design
There are no other chime structures like this in the world. The shape and orientation of the Tower are designed to optimize air flow through the TOV walls to reach the interior chime chamber. The chime system is designed using music theory to identify a mathematically developed range of frequencies needed to produce a distinct musical note associated with each chime. The applied music theory allows the sound produced by individual chimes to be musically compatible with the sound produced by the other chimes in the Tower. The intent is to create a set of forty tones (voices) that can connote through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while also through dissonance recalling the event that consecrated the site.

Design Features
The TOV is approximately ninety-three feet tall from the base to the top with some height variations. The Tower cross section is a “C” shape with a fifteen foot outside diameter and eleven foot inside diameter. The “C” shape allows sound to reflect outwardly from the open side in a fan-shaped pattern. The chimes will be suspended a minimum of twenty feet above the main plaza and will be suspended from the interior walls of the Tower up to the top.

The Tower walls will be constructed of precast concrete segments linked by connectors. The chimes will be constructed of polished aluminum tubes ranging eight to sixteen inches in diameter and approximately five to ten feet in length. The size of each chime is dependent on the musical note and associated frequency that it is intended to produce. Chimes of this size and magnitude does not currently exist in the world. The chimes are wind activated and will have internal strikers attached to sails projecting from the bottom of each chime.

Surrounding Landscape
The Tower is located on an oval concrete plaza that is built on top of an earth mound to create an area more prominent on the landscape. The plaza includes two curved concrete benches facing the opening of the Tower.

The Tower is surrounded by concentric rings of white pines and deciduous plantings. The concentric plantings may be interpreted as resonating “sound waves” from the Tower, alluding to the auditory qualities of the chimes housed within. A direct paved path leads to the Tower from the parking lot. A longer, meandering crushed stone path winds through the trees and allows visitors an alternative approach to the tower. All other landscaped areas of the project will be planted with a native wildflower seed mix similar to other landscaped areas of the park.

 

[PSU73]

PSU73 said “reverent”.

I was echoing BBrown's post though I always felt that way myself.