Last week, nearly 400 guests joined the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, and co-hosts President Bill Clinton, President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Speaker of the House John Boehner at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. for “An Evening of Remembrance” honoring the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who fought back against their hijackers on September 11, 2001, ultimately crashing their plane and preventing a second aerial attack on Washington D.C.
The National Park Foundation’s Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign announced the event brought in approximately two million dollars leaving eight million dollars in funding to be raised to complete the Shanksville, Pennsylvania memorial.
NBC’s “Meet the Press” moderator, David Gregory, presided as the master of ceremonies and country-music artist Vince Gill performed moving musical tributes, including his emotional hit “Go Rest High On That Mountain” which played while images of the 40 passengers and crew scrolled on the 40 foot screen on behind the stage.
“All future fundraising can build off of the momentum of this moment,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Last night’s event has brought us closer to the completion of this Memorial, ensuring that those lost on September 11, 2001, including the 40 heroes of Flight 93, are never forgotten.”
Co-hosts President Bill Clinton, President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Speaker of the House John Boehner were joined by many family members of the passengers and crew of Flight 93, resident and local supporters from the Shanksville community and dignitaries including: Governor Ed Rendell, Governor Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Secretary of Veteran Affairs Eric Shinseki, Governor Dirk Kempthorne, General Tommy Franks, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), Congressman Mark Critz (D-PA), Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki (Embassy of Japan), Deputy Chief of Mission Jens Hanefeld (Embassy of Germany), and Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis.
Source: PR Newswire
