A Message from Thomas P. Heidenberger, President
The idea behind the Airline Ride Across America was and is to raise awareness to the "first of the first responders", the crewmembers of the stricken aircraft of 9/11 and through their sacrifice also raise awareness to the memorials of 9/11. These memorials are in Shanksville, Pa for UAL flight 93, New York City at the World Trade Center and in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon. The idea was to ride across the country for 33 days with each day dedicated to the memory of one of the crewmembers who perished on 9/11. The Ride was and is about more than the three memorials, it was and is more than about the 33 crewmembers, it's about the more than 3000 citizens who lost their lives that day and it's about the countless families who lost loved ones that terrible day. It is about us as a country. It's about remembering the courage each and every American showed in moving on from the day the terrorists attacked our country. It is about the spirit that carried America through two world wars, a civil war, and a war for independence. It is a spirit that is seen today in the faces of the brave young men and women who defend us in the war on terror. This effort by the Airline Ride Across America is bringing the memorials one step closer to reality.
June 25th, 2007 - Check Presentation
 |
Congressman Frank Wolf, Va., Joe Daniels, President World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, Jim Laychak, President Pentagon Memorial foundation, Thomas Heidenberger, President Airline Ride Across America, Kenneth Nacke, brother of Louis Joseph Nacke who was a passenger on UAL flight 93, and Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Md. and Joanne Hanley, U.S. Park Service. |
 |
Thomas P. Heidenberger presents $45,000 check to the President of World Trade Center Memorial Fund and Congressman Frank R. Wolf, Virginia. |
|
