Sep 12, 2006 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

SHANKSVILLE – They came from New York, Ohio, New Jersey and from many communities across Pennsylvania Monday to recognize the bravery of 40 men and women they did not know, but will always remember. Jo Ann and Jeff Parsons wandered through the temporary memorial at Shanksville, reading the names of the passengers and crewmembers of United Flight 93 that had been etched on benches and markers while they waited for the 9/11 service to begin.

As the wind swirled across the field during the early morning hours, the New York couple and nearly 1,500 others made their way along the rugged Skyline Drive so that they could take part in honoring the passengers and crewmembers that would not allow the airliner to reach a destination set by four terrorists that had also gotten onboard the Sept. 11, 2001 flight at the Newark International Airport.

“We just wanted to be here,” said Jo Ann Parsons. “This was part of everything that happened that day, but not a lot of people know about it.”

Jeff Parsons was at Fort Drum, N.Y., completing his annual National Guard training, when the unit was dispatched to the World Trade Center.

“It was unimaginable,” he said. “You can see it on television, but it is something else to be standing there.

“One thing I will never forget is the smell.”

The images, said Jeff Parsons, like the odors, continue to linger.

“Especially during this time of the year,” he said.

Richard C. Pinnavaia was working on the 35th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when America Airline Flight 11 struck the neighboring twin tower.

“I was talking to my boss on the telephone,” said Pinnavaia as he recalled the events of that day. “I looked out the windows and I could see confetti like paper falling down; when we have parades, the confetti comes up.

“I looked up and could see the smoke coming out of Tower One.”

As he and others responded to a self-evacuation call, a second alert told those making their way to the ground floor, that there was a “fire emergency” in Tower One, but all was well in Tower Two and they could return to their offices.

“That was the right call at the time,” said Pinnavaia.

As he made a telephone call to his wife, United Airlines Flight 175 struck Tower Two.

Luckily, he made it to safety.

In the past, the safety engineer for an insurance broker, along with a New York police officer and two Connecticut firefighters had taken part in the Ground Zero memorial services, but decided this year to come to Shanksville.

“They just took a plane ride that day,” he said as he looked out to the crash site marked with a U.S. flag. “They were civilians, but they sacrificed their lives to save the rest of the country.

“I never met these people, but we share a common bond; we’re all Americans and we all suffered a lot that day.

“I will never forget.”

The Parsons and Pinnavaia gathered with others to take part in a flag ceremony conducted by Gene Stilp, designer of the Flight 93 flag that now flies at the temporary memorial site.

“We do this each year,” said Stilp of Middle Paxton Township.

Each hour, from sunrise to sunset on Sept. 11, visitors take part in the ceremony.

The portion of the folded flag is distributed to several individuals who hold it while others carefully extend it to reveal its logo and message of remembrance.

As the visitors hold their piece of the flag, Stilp encourages them to share their hometowns, to sing a patriotic song and to remember those of Flight 93.

“You never know who is going to be here, but it brings those that have come here together,” he said.

Gabe Bierbach clutched a bouquet of 40 red and white roses as he walked through the memorial site.

The U.S. Airways flight attendant traveled from Philadelphia to pay homage to those that had died.

“We’re all family,” he said as he tried to hold back tears. “We’re all family.”