Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission

Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission
Name	Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission
Formation	2002
Type	Federal advisory committee
Headquarters	Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Region served	United States
Parent organization	United States Department of the Interior

Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission is a federal advisory committee created to guide planning, development, and dedication of the memorial honoring victims of United Airlines Flight 93 who died during the September 11 attacks. It coordinated among federal entities such as the National Park Service, state authorities including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, local jurisdictions like Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and stakeholder groups representing families of the victims, civic organizations, and veteran associations. The Commission worked within legal frameworks including the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and legislation enacted by the United States Congress to establish commemorative design, land acquisition, and interpretation at the crash site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

History and Establishment

Congress created the advisory body after passage of public law enacted in the aftermath of September 11 attacks to oversee memorialization at the Flight 93 crash site, coordinating with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Early involvement included representatives from the United States Department of the Interior, the White House, and congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the United States House Committee on Natural Resources. The Commission’s formation followed consultations with families of victims who had formed groups like the Flight 93 Families Association and advocacy by members of the United States Congress including sponsors from the Pennsylvania congressional delegation. Initial steps referenced precedents such as the establishment of memorial commissions for Pentagon Memorial projects and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum planning processes.

Mission and Responsibilities

The Commission’s mission centered on advising the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service on design selection, land conveyance, interpretive planning, and ceremonial dedication of the memorial, ensuring that actions complied with statutes like the Commemorative Works Act. Responsibilities included consultation with descendant and survivor stakeholders such as the Family Steering Committee and liaison with federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Capital Planning Commission when ceremonial activities intersected with national observances. The Commission provided recommendations that balanced considerations evident in projects like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial to shape visitor experience, landscape architecture, and educational programming.

Membership and Organization

Membership combined ex officio appointees from the United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, the United States Congress via select Members, and public members appointed by the President of the United States, including family representatives and civic leaders from Pennsylvania. Organizational structure included a chairperson, vice-chair, and subcommittees modeled after advisory panels such as those used by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. The Commission coordinated with design teams that involved professionals tied to institutions like the American Institute of Architects and universities such as Harvard University and Penn State University for research, planning, and interpretation.

Meetings and Reports

The Commission held public meetings in venues including Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., following procedures akin to the Federal Advisory Committee Act and engaging with stakeholders from organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Battlefield Trust for preservation guidance. Its reports and recommendations influenced environmental assessments prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act and were considered by agencies such as the General Services Administration for land conveyance actions. Meeting minutes, briefings, and advisory memoranda paralleled reporting practices used by entities like the 9/11 Commission and the Smithsonian Institution when coordinating commemorative exhibitions.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding and partnerships involved federal appropriations authorized by the United States Congress, philanthropic contributions coordinated through the National Park Foundation, and private donations mobilized by family organizations and civic groups similar to the fundraising strategies used by the American Red Cross and the 911 Memorial & Museum. The Commission worked with state-level partners including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and local entities such as Somerset County, Pennsylvania to secure land transfers, easements, and infrastructure support. Collaborative partners in design and construction included firms and institutions previously engaged with national memorials, as well as veterans groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and service organizations such as the American Legion for ceremonial planning.

Controversies and Public Response

Public response encompassed a range of perspectives from family members, local residents of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, preservation advocates, and national stakeholders exemplified by debates seen in the creation of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and other commemoratives. Controversies touched on design choices, site selection, the balance between public access and reverence, and fundraising transparency, echoing disputes that arose around monuments such as the Enola Gay exhibit controversies at the Smithsonian Institution and debates over the Vietnam Veterans Memorial additions. Media coverage involved outlets across Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and national press; legal questions referenced property law handled by county courts in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and review by federal oversight entities like the Government Accountability Office.

Legacy and Impact on the Flight 93 Memorial

The Commission’s advisory role contributed to the establishment of interpretive elements, landscape design, and commemorative ceremonies that shaped public memory alongside institutions such as the National Park Service and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Its engagement with family representatives, design professionals, and elected officials influenced the dedication events that aligned with national commemorations overseen by the White House and congressional delegations. The Commission’s work informed ongoing stewardship policies similar to those maintained at the Arlington National Cemetery and other national commemorative sites, shaping visitor programming, educational outreach with schools and universities including Penn State University, and continuing partnerships with nonprofits like the National Park Foundation to preserve the site for future generations.

Category:United States federal advisory committees Category:September 11 attacks memorials in the United States