Honoring the fallen

Opinion: May 30, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By Tom Ridge and Tommy Franks

McClatchy-Tribune

Today we honor one of our nation’s great traditions — Memorial Day. It is a custom that began shortly after the American Civil War almost 150 years ago. It is one day for us to remember all of those who have fallen in service of this great nation. Yet today, as we are distracted by our mobile phones, 24-hour breaking news, and a seemingly endless stream of information, our question is — have we forgotten to remember?

Recently our nation experienced a momentous victory with the death of Osama bin Laden thanks to the brave and coordinated efforts over several years of U.S. intelligence and military forces. In the immediate aftermath of the news, we sounded a message loud and clear: “justice done, promise kept.”

But have we forgotten something else? While justice may have been delivered, nearly 10 years ago we also promised that the nearly 3,000 innocent people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, would always be remembered. What of that promise?

Shadow of the Pentagon

Today a completed memorial proudly stands in the shadow of the Pentagon welcoming thousands of visitors each year since opening in 2008. At Ground Zero, an elegantly designed memorial is funded and prepared to open this September. But a memorial in Shanksville, Pa., where United Flight 93 crashed in a peaceful field, is neither fully funded nor fully constructed. Until that is accomplished, our promise to those lost on 9/11 remains unfulfilled.

As Flight 93 was in route from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco, hijackers took control of the airplane, setting a course toward the nation’s capital. Over the next 35 minutes, 40 passengers and crew became aware of the hijackers’ sinister mission. Within moments they united, making the bold and selfless decision to re-take control of the plane, at all costs. Their struggle lasted only a few minutes before the plane crashed in a remote area, far from any dense populations.

But just as important as what happened on board Flight 93 that day is what did not happen. The plane was only 18 minutes in flight time from the U.S. Capitol, the likely target, where thousands of people work every day. Yet, thanks to the courage of 40 men and women — thousands more were saved. Today, a bronze plaque in the East Rotunda of the Capitol lists their names — but nothing more. No story of their bravery, no information about who they were, no mention of the loved ones left behind.

The men and women of Flight 93 were not Navy SEALs, soldiers or generals. They were 40 ordinary people who in a moment became extraordinary heroes — and delivered us our first victory in our war on terrorism. With their treasured lives, they deprived bin Laden of a target and signaled to all the world, we will pay any price for our freedom.

Flight 93 Memorial

So we ask, this Memorial Day, will the men and women of Flight 93 be remembered? Will they be honored alongside our nation’s other heroes who have saved countless lives and stood as beacons of pride and courage for country? Until we finish the funding of the Flight 93 National Memorial — the answer to this question remains in doubt.

Help us to complete the Flight 93 National Memorial. Visit www.honorflight93.org and give what you can. Thanks to the Richard King Mellon Foundation, your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million.

Let us keep our promise to the heroes of Flight 93. Let us remember.

Tom Ridge served as the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 to October 2001. Tommy Franks is a retired U.S. Army general and served as commander of U.S. Central Command from 2000 to 2003.