YHC arrived to the AO early, and was able to greet those that arrived to participate in the 9/11 tribute. YHC was pleased to see members of the LARC, fresh off their BRR victory run. YHC was glad to see 2 shovel flags holding Old Glory on this day.
At 0528, YHC took a couple minutes to read some fast facts about 9/11.
17 years ago, Nineteen men hijacked four fuel-loaded US commercial airplanes. A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The Victims:
At the World Trade Center (WTC) site in Lower Manhattan, 2,753 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed into the north and south towers, or as a result of the crashes.
Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, 343 were New York City firefighters, 23 were New York City police officers and 37 were officers at the Port Authority.
At the Pentagon in Washington, 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building.
Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight deck.
As of July 2018, 1,642 (or 60%) of 2,753 WTC victims’ remains have been positively identified, according to the medical examiner’s office.
A brief disclaimer, and we’re off……
The 9/11 tribute run would consist of running through the practice track and on to the festival ground bike trail, where the pax would run half the lap and meet at the Wisner Bridge.
At the Wisner Bridge, the instructions were simple. The pax was to run up and over a total of four times, symbolizing the 4 planes from 9/11. The Pax were instructed to run uphill as hard as possible thinking about the uphill battle the first responders had at the WTC buildings. While running downhill, the pax was to think about the sacrifice the heroes of flight 93 made when they crashed nose first into a field, which potentially saved hundreds of lives of the unknown target.
Once complete, the pax was instructed to complete the lap of the bike trail and return to the practice track where they were to run 2 laps, sprinting the straightaways and resting on the curves. YHC believes the minimum run was just over 4 miles, while the faster pax probably got closer to 5 miles.
Return to the flag, and complete one set of 9 ‘mericans and a set of 11 ‘mericans to seal the deal.
COT
Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and closed with a prayer.
Thanks for posting with me today, SYITG
NMM
YHC told a brief story of the visit he made with his 2.0 to the 9/11 memorial site in 2017. I wasn’t sure if my daughter could handle the somber experience at 10 years of age, but she was genuinely touched by the experience. On our way out, I told her she could get whatever she wanted at the gift shop, which usually entails many stuffed animals and silly toys, but not this time. All she wanted was a NYFD ball cap. Nothing more to say there…..
