Remember Me Rose Garden honors spirit of the Flight 93 heroes

Somerset County, Pa. (WTAJ) – The Remember Me Rose Garden in Stoystown draws a reverential parallel between a beautiful rose and that fateful day in 2001.

Just like a rose is rooted in the ground, September 11 is rooted in history. Similarly, the thorns of 9/11 will forever prick our hearts, but on that same painful stem blooms a beautiful reminder of sacrifice.

600 reminders are planted in the garden.

“For the people who selflessly gave their lives to save the lives of so many others,” VP of the Remember Me Rose Garden Bill Cenk said.

Its creation was seeded by Clay Mankamyer, who said the garden grew out of his helplessness.

“The plane came down just over the hill from my house in Shanksville. I offered to help with whatever was needed but it was apparent there was nothing to be done,” Mankamyer said.

Mankamyer explained that he was filled with anger and questions of why, but instead of holding on to that bitterness, he decided to channel it by sowing beauty from the ashes. He’d start his toil by talking with the families of Flight 93.

“They said what do you need, and I said I’d like to have about 15 acres and they said you got it,” Mankamyer said.

The families of Flight 93 purchased and donated the land which is unrecognizable in comparison to what it used to look like.

“This was a dump for tires. It was all overgrown. There were trees and weeds. It was a mess,” Cenk said.

It’s now a living tribute to the heroes of 9/11 overflowing with symbolism.

The garden’s design is in the shape of a compass. Its long points are 93 ft long in honor of Flight 93, and its short points are 40 ft, in an additional tribute to the 40 crew and passengers. The compass design is also visible to planes flying overhead at more than 30,000 ft.

Then, in the center of the garden is a fountain surrounded by 40 rocks with the names of each crew member and passenger.

Mankamyer said Elizabeth Wainio left the biggest impression on him. She was just 27 years old and traveling for work after recently attending the funeral of her grandma. During the hijacking, Wainio would call her mom for the last time.

“In signing off she said I gotta go now mom. I’m going to go see grandma,” Mankamyer said.

Wainio’s mother would later visit the Remember Me Rose Garden. On that day 40 butterflies were released in memory of the 40 lives lost. Mankamyer said they all headed straight towards the woods for cover when one of the butterflies broke ranks and circled back.

“It found Elizabeth’s mother and landed right over her heart and stayed there. She was able to walk around for the rest of the ceremony and tell people this is for my Elizabeth. She said her favorite thing in the entire world, was butterflies,” Mankamyer said.

Another symbol in the garden is found at the cross, the same cross that was placed at the crash site.

“It is a symbol of the faith and courage of those who sacrificed their lives on Flight 93,” Mankamyer said.

Like that of Todd Beamer who after reciting Psalms 23 and the Lord’s prayer said the famous words- “let’s roll” before storming the cockpit in an attempt to fight back against the terrorists.

Just as Beamer’s faith brought him comfort, Mankamyer said he hopes that the garden will bring the same to all who visit allowing people to reflect, heal and most importantly never forget.

The Remember Me Rose Garden is far from finished, each year there are new enhancements. Currently in the works is a visitors center, a separate garden to commemorate the Jewish passengers aboard Flight 93 and a donation box as the garden is run completely by volunteers.

If you’d like to donate to help keep the rose garden and memory of the 40 alive, click here .

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