PA Chamber Promotes Flight 93 Memorial Campaign

Member Group : PA Chamber of Business and Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

Statewide business leaders recognize
Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry welcomed representatives of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign to Harrisburg as special guests at a reception for the chamber’s Investor level member companies. The event was held Thursday, Nov. 5 at the National Civil War Museum.

National Park Foundation President and CEO Neil Mulholland and Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign Manager King Laughlin shared with statewide business leaders plans for a permanent memorial to the 40 brave passengers and crewmembers that perished aboard Flight 93 when it crashed in a field in Somerset County on Sept. 11, 2001.

At the reception, Pennsylvania Chamber President Floyd Warner presented Mulholland and Laughlin with a contribution to the memorial fund-raising effort.

Groundbreaking for the Flight 93 National Memorial is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7. The first phase, "Remembering the Heroes" includes preserving the sacred ground and establishing a viewing area around the crash site. The first phase will be dedicated on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

To date, $16 million has been committed to the campaign from private individuals, corporations and foundations. And additional $14 million is needed to complete the design. More than 1 million people have already visited the temporary site, and more than 230,000 visitors are expected annually once the memorial is completed.

"Our nation owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of Flight 93," Warner said. "Their heroic actions no doubt saved countless lives on the day of infamy that was September 11, a day that will be forever etched in the memories of all Americans.

"A lasting memorial to their bravery is a fitting way to honor their self-sacrifice. The Pennsylvania Chamber and its member businesses welcome the opportunity to raise awareness about the memorial campaign and lend support to help see this project to fruition."

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Special guests at the reception also included Debby Borza, representing Families of Flight 93 and mother of passenger Deora Bodley; Victoria Tagliabue, campaign assistant for the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign; and staff members of state Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny/Butler, who has been actively involved in the fund-raising effort.

More information about the Flight 93 National Memorial is available at www.honorflight93.org.

TEVA Pharmaceuticals sponsored the Investor reception.

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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy organization, with its statewide membership representing businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business.