Stonycreek Township near Stoystown in Somerset County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

America Attacked

Flight 93 Memorial

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

America Attacked Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 24, 2024

1. America Attacked Marker

Inscription. On the morning of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial flights that departed from East Coast airports. Two hijacked aircraft were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City and a third into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. Nearly 3,000 people died in the four aircraft strikes, making September 11 the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.

Aboard Flight 93
Alerted to the attack at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the 40 unarmed passengers and crew members took quick and decisive action. Their effort to regain control of the aircraft ended after a struggle for the cockpit. This revolt prevented Flight 93 from reaching al-Qaeda's intended target. Evidence later revealed that the most likely target was the US Capitol, where both Houses of Congress were in session. Flight 93 crashed less than 20 minutes flying time from Washington, DC.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: 9/11 Attacks • Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 2001.

Location. 40° 3.035′

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N, 78° 54.085′ W. Marker is near Stoystown, Pennsylvania, in Somerset County. It is in Stonycreek Township. It can be reached from Ring Road. It is located in the Memorial Plaza of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stoystown PA 15563, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Welcome to the Memorial Plaza (here, next to this marker); Threat in the Air (here, next to this marker); "In the cockpit. If we don't, we'll die!" (a few steps from this marker); Since September 11 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Investigation (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to the Memorial Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Crash Site and Debris Field (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Overlooking History (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stoystown.

Other markers no longer nearby. Mayday! (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); America Attacked! (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); “We're going to do something.” (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Investigation

Photographed by Sean Flynn

2. America Attacked Marker

The marker is one of several in Memorial Plaza; in this photo it is on the right side of the plaza, seen from the side.

(was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker is one of a half-dozen located in the Memorial Plaza at the Flight 93 Memorial. It was installed sometime after 2016, replacing an older marker that had the same title with an exclamation point at the end. This newer marker has different text and uses a slightly different font.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The original marker: America Attacked!

Three markers in the Memorial Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 24, 2024

3. Three markers in the Memorial Plaza

All three of the markers in this 2024 photo, including America Attacked in the front, are post-2016 replacements of original markers, featuring revised titles, text and layouts.

America Attacked image. Click for full size.

October 15, 2016

4. America Attacked

A local resident 1.5 miles away, took this photo within minutes after Flight 93 crashes.Close-up of photo on marker

Flight 93 National Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 24, 2024

5. Flight 93 National Memorial

This photo, taken from the Flight Path Overlook next to the visitors center, offers a panoramic view of the Flight 93 crash site. A boulder in the green field behind the memorial marks the spot where the plane crashed into the ground on September 11, 2001, about ⅓ of a mile from where this photo was taken. To the left of the field is a small structure that is part of the Memorial Plaza; historical markers describing Flight 93 and its aftermath are to the left of that structure.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on April 24, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on December 23, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on May 3, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.