Last fall, we began a collaboration with the National Park Service staff of the Flight

93 Memorial site, which lies only 75 miles from here, in the tiny community of

Shanksville. Before we share the research we’ve been doing, we’d like to

acknowledge the upcoming 11th anniversary of September 11. Please join us in a few

moments of silence.

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The story of Flight 93 is one of heroism. As they became aware of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, the passengers realized that Flight 93 hijacking was part of a larger attack on America. The diverse group of people on Flight 93 quickly developed a plan and put it into action, sacrificing their lives to save countless others.

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At all three sites, symbols began to emerge. Firemen raising the flag became an

iconic symbol of the WTC site, a symbol of hope and patriotism during our darkest

hours. Thousands upon thousands began contributing to makeshift memorial sites in

New York, Washington….

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…and Shanksville. The original makeshift memorial at the Flight 93 site shown here

depicts how children and adults left behind or mailed pictures, letters, flags, toys,

teddy bears, ball caps, medals, and much more.

Each of these tributes, no matter how large or small, has been carefully catalogued

and preserved by the Flight 93 site volunteers.

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We have focused our exploration on drawings, letters, and comments left by children.

We are exploring these tributes as a way of trying to understand how young visitors ---

and youth everywhere---make meaning of the events of 9/11.

We’d like to share some of their images and words with you today.

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Many of the artifacts we’ve examined are from the students of Shanksville-Stonycreek

Elementary School, which sits approximately 4 miles from the Flight 93 crash site (or

as one child put it, 28 seconds by airplane). These children were witness to a

community struck by unimaginable tragedy, and they, in their own way, paid tribute to

the heroes of Flight 93 and the firemen, policemen, and other first responders to all of

the 9/11 sites.

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Recognizing the impact of the crash on the school, others have written to the children.

Messages such as these received by the school or by local rescue teams are also

archived carefully for the future.

Let’s turn now to the work of children as they try to make meaning of 9/11.

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Let’s begin our exploration of the children’s artifacts by looking at this unusual piece.

It’s a rare depiction, because it takes place before the planes crashed into the towers.

Notice that the individual appears calm and smiling. Everything seems fine.

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Here, a different young artist depicts the horror that followed that morning. Notice

the striking similarity between the child’s rendering and one of the most unsettling

images of the day. Many other young children created similar drawings depicting the

two towers, fire, smoke, and airplanes.

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Children drew the Pentagon as well. However, there were very few illustrations or

messages regarding this site. Notice the hole that represents the damage from the

crash.

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Much like the Pentagon, few images

depicted the Shanksville crash. Some drew

a hole in the ground, while others drew

crashed planes. Here, we see another

image that is strikingly similar to the

images found in the media.

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A large number of tributes are directed towards firefighters, police, and other first

responders. Here, we see two thank you letters sent to the site. When we look closer

at these pictures, we see images that are realistic… and somewhat unsettling.

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This picture expresses many ideas and feelings the child is managing.

As all of you well know, frightening images remain with children for a long time,

even if those images were present only on a television screen or in a magazine.

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There were also many children who wrote supportive and uplifting messages… Let

me read you the words of this image, while you study the visual elements of it.

“We like the U.S.A. America Rules. USA Rocks Baby!! We love America

God Bless America Lord. The USA Rules. Bless America.”

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Love of one’s flag. Love of one’s country. Hoping for a happier future. Perhaps this image can help us remember our young visitors and their inner thoughts and feelings. And how important adults are in helping them understand the story of Flight 93.

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At the Flight 93 site, junior ranger books were developed initially and are being redesigned, now that the memorial has been completed. Plans for a Visitor Center and interactive Learning Center are underway. The purpose of our research is to support the work of the National Park Service interpretation staff, and many volunteer guides. These individuals often find it difficult to help young visitors explore such an abstract event and site. This difficulty is made more so each year, as fewer and fewer young visitors will even remember, firsthand the events of that day. Our two goals are simple: to inform teachers, parents, caregivers, guides, and young visitors as they try make meaning of this event …and to honor the memory of those who perished aboard Flight 93.

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Now, we’d like you to meet the rest of our team. We are joined in this work by three

Master’s students studying Applied Developmental Psychology, a Curriculum

Specialist, and an Art therapist /art educator. Together, we have logged over 300 on-

site hours at Flight 93.

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On behalf of all of our team, thank you for letting us share our work.

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