U.S. Gov't Backs Off Seizure Plan, Says Flight 93 Landowners 'Will Be Treated Fairly'

thepittsburghchannel.com ^ | 6/5/2009 | General

[stevie_d_64]

I believe everything they have done so far is an insult...

“Arlen Specter D-PA”

I really wonder if the people in that state are going to fire this abomination...I seriously doubt they have the guts to do so...

And yeah...Thats a challenge...

And if you want to know...Yep...I am not going to vote for Kay Bailey Hutchison Rino-Tx...I’m voting for Mike Williams R-Tx for that Senate seat...

[rvoitier]

Flight 93 Memorial--National Parks Service

[toldyou]

“What the hell? I believe it’s something like 660 acres for a square mile. They actually thought they needed four square miles of land? We’re talking about a very large tract of land here.”

Yes...it’s in a rural area. A small motel or two are miles away near the turnpike. I, too, can’t understand why they need all this land!

We United flight attendants raised money and put an absolutely beautiful memorial to our flight attendants and pilots on the grounds of a chapel across the road from the crash site. It was there way before the 5th anniversary.

[agrace]

Why is such a large memorial needed? Put up a small monument on the side of the road and be done with it.

Exactly, and the makeshift memorial is just that, and it is beautiful - it's right off the road and its very small footprint doesn't really infringe upon much of the surrounding land. We were there several years ago, and if it is still the way it was, to the right of this photo they have a small parks building with albums you can look through and one parks worker on duty. There are park benches engraved with the names of those who died, carved rocks and memorial stones on the ground, and the wall you see in the photo is fantastic, with notes of thanks like "Thank you for not hitting our school, love, the students of [name of local elementary that is quite close by], and all kinds of firefighter, police and soldier memorabilia.

The memorial's construction was mostly spontaneous and personifies the fierce patriotism of average Americans and I think it should stay just as it is. It is a respectful distance from the actual crash site, which is probably several hundred yards in the distance across a field - in the photo it would be out off to the left.

[agrace]

Here's a shot of the whole thing. The crash site is in the distance beyond the flags above the wall, or maybe to the right a bit. When we were there the actual location was marked with a flag way out in the field.

[DoughtyOne]

Good for you folks. While I want a memorial on sight, it rubs me the wrong way how the government is making a mockery of its effort.

[AUH2O Repub]

I am usually against the government taking land but the property owners are the greedy ones here. They are the ones that are asking far more than the property is worth because some brave Americans died there. I had a good friend and colleague on that flight and I think it is a travesty that these people are trying to make an obscene profit off of my friend’s death.

[the OlLine Rebel]

These people continue to vote MURTHA despite his insulting them 1st 1 way, then apologizing another insult.

People are morons, and western PA is proving it.

[toldyou]

“Move it to NYC! why have memorials all over the place.”

I agree with you. While millions will be able to view it in NYC, not many will visit Shanksville.

Federal Funds Approved for Flight 93 Memorial
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The U.S. Senate yesterday approved $5.475 million for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County as part of the 2009 appropriations bill. The bill is now awaiting the signature of President Barack Obama.

The memorial is expected to be dedicated on Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The total estimated cost of the project is $56 million.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09070/954716-100.stm#ixzz0Hc3u7HFj&C

[omega4179]

I fail to see why their property rights should be disturbed because a plane happened to crash there.

[Cheetahcat]

“I agree with you. While millions will be able to view it in NYC, not many will visit Shanksville.

Federal Funds Approved for Flight 93 Memorial
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The U.S. Senate yesterday approved $5.475 million for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County as part of the 2009 appropriations bill. The bill is now awaiting the signature of President Barack Obama.

The memorial is expected to be dedicated on Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The total estimated cost of the project is $56 million.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09070/954716-100.stm#ixzz0Hc3u7HFj&C";

One can always count on the government too take the the most wasteful and harmful Plan every time.

[Talisker]

I had a good friend and colleague on that flight and I think it is a travesty that these people are trying to make an obscene profit off of my friend’s death.

But you think your friend and colleague is properly memorialized by a gigantic red crescent that points to Mecca, the center of the religion that murdered him?

[skr]

Space for souvenir shops and eateries?

[AUH2O Repub]

I think some people see Red Crescents everywhere, was the boogeyman under your bed at night also?

[NittanyLion]

They are the ones that are asking far more than the property is worth because some brave Americans died there. I had a good friend and colleague on that flight and I think it is a travesty that these people are trying to make an obscene profit off of my friend’s death.

The property is worth whatever price can be negotiated between buyer and seller. Suppose that property was in their family's hands for generations and they refused to consider any sale - should they be forced to sell anyway?

[NittanyLion]

The latest news on this is that the government was given the families one week to reach an agreement, or eminent domain proceedings will be initiated.

[mewzilla]

I, too, can’t understand why they need all this land!

Wonder if there's anything interesting underneath it.

[mewzilla]

The latest news on this is that the government was given the families one week to reach an agreement, or eminent domain proceedings will be initiated.

Pity the property owners don't belong to the UAW.

[NittanyLion]

Pity the property owners don't belong to the UAW.

LOL...that's for sure.

No doubt the property owners will be able to negotiate from a strong position considering that one week ultimatum < /sarcasm >. But of course the administration was able to make a symbolic move to take heat off itself, and after all that's what is most important.

[AUH2O Repub]

I fail to see why their property rights should be disturbed because a plane happened to crash there.

---

So the people that owned the land under our Civil War battlefields should have been allowed to turn them into used car lots or housing developments and destroy our history? No Gettysburg, no Antietam, no Concord or Lexington? There IS such a thing as public good.