A Field of Honor

Sep 16

During some free time during the Oblate Summer Convocation this past June, Fr. Ed Ogden had the opportunity to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was his first visit, and it left a lasting impression.

“Years ago, I visited the memorial at Ground Zero in New York City. That experience was powerful, but the visit to Shanksville was different. Here, after parking your car, you begin walking a quiet pathway that follows the actual flight path of United 93. Step by step, you move toward the crash site. The simplicity of the memorial is striking. There are no distractions – only silence, reverence, and the opportunity to reflect.

As I walked, I found myself thinking not only of the forty passengers and crew members who lost their lives, but also of the extraordinary courage they displayed. Knowing the fate that awaited them, they chose to act, preventing even greater devastation and sacrificing their lives for countless others. Their heroism remains one of the most inspiring examples of selfless love in our nation’s history.

The Visitor Center deepens that experience. Artifacts, recordings, and personal stories help visitors understand the events of that tragic day. For me, the most moving part was seeing the photographs of every member of the flight crew and every passenger. They ceased to be names in history books and became mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors – ordinary people who, in an extraordinary moment, became heroes.

As I left the memorial, I was reminded of Jesus’ words: No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). The Flight 93 Memorial is not simply a place that recalls tragedy; it is a sacred place that bears witness to courage, sacrifice, and hope. It invites us to remember, to give thanks, and to ask ourselves how we might live each day with that same spirit of selfless love and commitment to one another.

St. Francis de Sales reminds us that “nothing is so strong as gentleness.” The Flight 93 Memorial embodies that paradox. It is not loud or dramatic. Its quiet simplicity speaks powerfully of lives lived with courage, love, and selfless sacrifice. May we honor their memory not only with our gratitude and prayers, but by choosing each day to love generously, serve faithfully, and place the good of others before ourselves.