What Was Noise At Flight 93 Memorial Service

Artist's rendering of the Tower of Voices

News Release Date: September 10, 2017

Contact: Stephanie Loeb (National Park Service), 215-268-2614

Contact: Alanna Sobel (National Park Foundation), 202-796-2538

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. – In partnership with the Families and Friends of Flight 93 and the National Park Foundation, Flying 93 National Memorial will break footing (and sound) today on a visual and audible reminder of the courageous actions of the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93. This feature marks the concluding phase of major construction of the memorial's original blueprint and will be named the Tower of Voices (TOV). It will stand 93 feet tall and contain 40 wind chimes that volition serve as an enduring memory of the voices of the passengers and crew. Structure of the tower will brainstorm in late September with anticipated completion and a dedication ceremony in September 2018.

"In that location are no other chime structures similar this in the world," said Flying 93 National Memorial Superintendent Steve Clark. "This unique structure volition complete all of the major components of our permanent memorial in a most beautiful way. Non only will it be the first thing visitors see and hear when they arrive at the memorial, it will provide an opportunity for reflection as they depart."

The "soundbreaking" ceremony will take identify on Sunday, September 10, atiii:30 p.m. EDT in a field about the archway of the memorial. Afterwards brief remarks and a ceremonial ground turning, visitors will hear an airing of a chimes simulation and view an early on prototype of one of the 40 future chimes. To listen to the audio simulation of the chimes and view illustrations of the belfry's blueprint, please visit world wide web.nps.gov/flni/getinvolved/tower-of-voices.htm.

Gordon Felt, President, Families of Flight 93 said, "As we enter into the construction stage of the Tower of Voices, the Families of Flying 93 feel a sense of relief that our heroes' Memorial is nearing completion. We are grateful to our partners at the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and the Friends of Flying 93 National Memorial for the opportunity to piece of work hand in manus from the very beginning in order to create what nosotros feel is an boggling memorial to the xl heroes of Flying 93."

The design and construction of the TOV – totaling nigh $half-dozen million – is being funded by a grant from the National Park Foundation. This contribution is in addition to the more than $40 1000000 the Foundation raised through its Flight 93 National Memorial Capital Campaign to fund reforestation of the park'due south mural and design and construct the park's Memorial Plaza, Wall of Names, 40 Memorial Groves, and Field of Accolade.

"This park is a shining example of the powerful impact that private philanthropy tin have in our national parks," said National Park Foundation President Volition Shafroth. "Thanks to contributions from more 110,000 individuals, foundations and corporations, nosotros're able to assist ensure that the heroes of Flight 93 will be remembered and honored into perpetuity."

The TOV itself is a instrument. The shape and orientation of the tower are designed to optimize air flow through the tower walls to accomplish the interior chamber. Each of the 40 wind-activated chimes in the tower interior will produce a musical note, that sounds in

harmony with surrounding chimes.

"The intent is to create a ready of forty tones, or voices, that tin can limited through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while besides through noise recalling the event that consecrated the site," said Architect Paul Murdoch. "The National Park Service, with the help of the design team, has engineered an audio simulation of what these chimes may audio like when they are fully installed adjacent year."

The chimes will be synthetic of polished aluminum tubes measuring eight inches in diameter and approximately five to ten feet in length. The size of each chinkle is dependent on the musical note and associated frequency it is intended to produce.

"To our knowledge, tuned chimes of this size and an system in this magnitude are unique in the world," Murdoch said.

The National Park Service is partnering with EarthCam to provide a alive stream of the TOV'due south soundbreaking ceremony and structure over the coming year. To view the live stream, visit world wide web.flight93friends.org/plan-your-visit/webcams.

The Flight 93 National Memorial's annual Luminaria andSeptember 11Observance will take identify on the evening of September 10, and morning time ofSeptember 11, respectively. The public is encouraged to attend these events and the tower's "soundbreaking" ceremony. More than information is available at nps.gov/flni.

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About Flying 93 National Memorial

On September 24, 2002, Congress passed the Flight 93 National Memorial Human action. The Act created a new national park unit to commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September eleven, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our nation's upper-case letter. The memorial is outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flying 93 crashed with the loss of its 40 passengers and crew. For more information about the Flight 93 National Memorial, please visit www.nps.gov/flni.

Well-nigh the National Park Foundation

The National Park Foundation is the official clemency of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to assist PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the side by side generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service'southward 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the hereafter of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Notice out more than and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.