Flight 93 flag unfurled in Harrisburg on eve of September 11 anniversary

(WHTM) — A ceremonial flag designed by a Midstate activist is flying over Shanksville, Pennsylvania in remembrance of the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The Flight 93 flag—designed by Pennsylvania Government Reformer and activist Gene Stilp— was made days after United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked and heading towards the Washington D.C. Capitol building but was forced down in Shanksville. The flag has flown over the crash site every September 10th and 11th since. However, the flag had a special unfurling this year.

“It was great to actually touch it and hold it and feel history,” said Bianca Santos, one of Stilp’s volunteers.

“To really touch something special that’s part of that and has been for so many years is an honor,” said Philadelphia couple John and Betsy Baskin.

When asked what motivates him to continue the flag-flying tradition, Stilp simply said “People forget.”

Stilp later said not only should people never forget the 9/11 tragedy, but also the aftermath of the attack: flags flapping, blood banks jam-packed, signs of condolence and support, and patriotism, rather than partisanship.

“I feel like everybody came together as a nation,” Santos added. “Everybody was really close.”

“We all came together because it was bigger than us,” said Sandy Stilp, a nurse and Gene Stilp’s sister. “We got outside of ourselves. And we realized we can make a difference.”

With a contentious election looming, anger and division have seemingly reached a new high.

“You spend hours interviewing people and what’s the word? Divisive, divided,” said volunteer Joe Stafford.

“We’re at loggerheads,” said Keith Betz, another volunteer.

“We are divided, but we can come together again. We can,” John and Betsy Baskin added.

We came together on September 12, 2001. But will we now?

“I’m an optimist, so I think we’ll pull it together,” Stafford answered.

“We could still have unity,” Sandy Stilp agreed. “We just had to do one step at a time. Reach your hands out and just take a big, deep breath. Let’s heal each other because we can do it. We are that powerful.”

Flags like the Flight 93 are symbols, and they can be powerful. This flag brings back memories of our united past for many people. Might it help us find a united future?

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