Friends Of Flight 93 National Memorial Announces Four Heroes Award Finalists

SOMERSET, Pa., Sept. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial today announced four finalists for the first annual Flight 93 Heroes Award. The group will name the selected honoree of the award on Friday, Sept. 10, a day before the 20^th anniversary of 9/11.  

These are the first nominees ever selected for the award that honors the courageous actions of the 40 passengers and crew members onboard Flight 93 who thwarted a terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Their plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pa. nearly 20 years ago.

Donna Gibson, president of the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, said nominations came from all over the country.

"We are pleased to highlight the bravery of these four individuals, everyday people who in a crisis took action, just like those on board Flight 93," she said.

Emily Schenkel's godmother, Flight Attendant Lorraine Bay, was on the plane that fateful day. Schenkel said, "the Flight 93 Heroes Award is vitally important to help keep the memory of Flight 93 alive." She added that over 75 million people have been born since September 11, 2001 and have no living memory of that day, nor the incredible acts of heroism carried out by the Flight 93 passengers and crew members.

"I want people to remember the bravery of my godmother and the other passengers and crew members that day," said Schenkel. "Their legacy and contribution to American history must be preserved."

The nominee selection panel included families of the passengers and crew members of Flight 93 and representatives from the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial board, the National Park Service and National Park Foundation.

All of the entities engaged in the effort support the memorial and work to keep alive the memory of the 40 Flight 93 passengers and crew members. The National Park Foundation, for example, contributed more than $45 million from over 110,000 donors to support the Flight 93 National Memorial and helped to establish the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial.

The Flight 93 Heroes Award finalists:

Justin Gavin
On Sept, 9, 2020, Gavin saw a mother and three children traveling in a burning car in Waterbury, Conn. and jumped into action. He rescued all four before flames completely engulfed the vehicle. Read more here.

Terry Ingram
On Jan. 9, 2020, Ingram was photographing eagles in Bellevue, Neb. when he witnessed a car plunge upside down into a freezing pond. He jumped into the icy water and pulled three men out of the vehicle as it was sinking.
Read more here.

Sivad Johnson
On Aug. 21, 2020, Johnson jumped into a river when he heard three girls screaming for help. The Detroit off-duty firefighter was helping the girls when authorities believe he got caught in a rip current and died. The girls were all saved.
Read more here.

Red Tate
On Nov. 27, 2020, Tate saw a truck strike a car, which then went down an embankment in Dekalb County, Ga. Tate pulled a man out of the car. Moments later the vehicle exploded into flames.
Read more here.

*Media planning to attend the Sept. 10 event are asked to RSVP to Jeanette Krebs at [email protected].

The public is welcome to attend.

In accordance with US Public Health Service guidance, during peak hours the Visitor Center may delay entry to limit crowding and promote physical distancing. To best protect staff and visitors, masks are required in all Flight 93 National Memorial buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, masks must be worn in outdoor spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

More information about the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial can be found by visiting www.Flight93Friends.org. The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial thanks the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its generous support making the Flight 93 Heroes Award possible.

ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Established in 2009, the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial is the official nonprofit partner of Flight 93 National Memorial. The Friends focus on awareness, education, volunteer support, preservation and stewardship to ensure that Flight 93 National Memorial will remain accessible, relevant and inspirational to present and future generations. To learn more about the Friends, or make a donation to support the Friends, visit www.Flight93Friends.org.

SOURCE Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, Inc.

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www.Flight93Friends.org