By KIRK SWAUGER
The Tribune-Democrat
SHANKSVILLE
September 11, 2008 08:32 pm
—
As the late morning sun began piercing steely gray skies, U.S. Sen. John McCain thought back seven years.
Directly above where the Republican presidential nominee was standing Thursday morning on a reclaimed strip mine near Shanksville, 40 heroes fought back against terrorism. Their actions potentially spared McCain’s life and thousands of others from hijackers intent on crashing Flight 93 into the nation’s Capitol in Washington.
“I am in awe of it as much as I am in debt to it,” McCain said at the customarily wind-swept Flight 93 temporary memorial on the seventh anniversary of the tragedy.
“May God bless their souls.”
Saying he would lay aside politics for a day to honor those who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001, McCain focused solely on the solemnity of the moment, though he and his wife, Cindy, exchanged handshakes with family members before the ceremony and well-wishers in the crowd afterward.
For additional information see Friday's Tribune-Democrat.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Senator John McCain greets family members of the flight 93 tragedy before todays memorial service.., The Tribune-Democrat
