Weeklong events to raise awareness, fund raise for Flight 93 memorial

Kent State will be the first university to devote a weeklong series of events to commemorate United Flight 93 beginning today.

The events, titled “Flight 93: An Education on Everyday Heroes,” are part of “93 cents for Flight 93,” a campaign designed to educate students and raise money for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pa.

Events this week for “Flight 93: An Education on Everyday Heroes” &bull A Flight 93 exhibit and timeline will be on display in front of the M.A.C. Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday though Friday. The exhibit will move to Dix Stadium on Saturday. &bull Paul Murdoch, the architect of the Flight 93 National Memorial, will speak at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Michael Schwartz Center. There will be design boards showing the memorial, which will be finished by the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. &bull Screenings of the film “United 93” will play at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday and at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday in the Kiva. &bull New York Times reporter Jeré Longman, who is the author of “Among the Heroes,” will speak at 3 p.m. Thursday in Franklin Hall’s First Energy Interactive Auditorium. &bull Family members of passengers and crew of United Flight 93 will speak at 3 p.m. Friday in the Kiva.

Sharon Deitrick, member of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign, said she chose a grassroots effort for the campaign. Deitrick, an Akron resident, wants to raise funds for the memorial in Somerset County and educate people about the courage and valor of passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93.

“(Courage and valor) were so incredibly displayed on Flight 93,” she said.

King Laughlin, campaign manager for the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign, said Deitrick’s efforts gained interest at Kent State.

“The initial drama of Flight 93 began over the skies of Kent and Cleveland,” he said. “There’s a great message everyone can learn from.”

Deitrick said she wants people to donate at least 93 cents toward the memorial for Flight 93. The Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign plans to continue this initiative at other universities across the country.

“We want the number 93 to resonate so students never forget that number,” she said.

Family members of passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 will speak Friday at Kent State about their experiences.

Deitrick said the opportunity to hear them speak will be “life-changing.” She said this will mark the first time family members will speak at a university about losing loved ones.

“Students have an incredible opportunity,” she said. “Ninety percent of caring is showing up.”

The series will conclude with the Kent State vs. Delaware State football game at Dix Stadium on Saturday. The Army Fast Track Jump Team will deliver the game ball. After the national anthem, planes from the U.S. Air Force will conduct a flyover.

Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy said the game and the week’s events will be an opportunity to learn the historical significance of Flight 93.

“We had this game as an opportunity to honor our heroes,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to give it a very strong, patriotic theme.”

Contact general assignment reporter Bo Gemmell at [email protected].