The Shanksville Story < USA Today < Attack on America Picture Story < Still Photography Entries < The Best of Photojournalism 2002

A completely new resource for me is a six-year-old web effort at awarding honors for taking pictures on September 11, 2001, and its aftermath. A truly insipid entry is that of USA Today---and I pray God they didn't win. The inanity might be accounted for in that USA Today had the heavy lifting of a focus on the Flight 93 portion of the narrative, but not entirely. The specific references to not only religion, or Christianity, but to that brand of evangelicalism that personifies the horrible Bush administration---especially when it's wrapped up in the red, white and blue of the American flag---here adds insult to injury, as we are privileged with caption identifications, an item traditionally associated with spot news photojournalism, but nearly entirely absent in the record of 9-11 in both New York City and Arlington, Virginia. The breathtaking stupidity of the narrative makes me mourn for the species.

The Best of Photojournalism 2002 > Still Photography Entries > Attack on America Picture Story > USA Today


11/11/01-- A TOWN GATHERS -- The townspeople of Shanksville, PA gather for a Veterans day service and flag raising on Sunday November 11th, 2001. Fourteen flagpoles were dedicated and the church bells tolled for the victims of United flight 93 which crashed just outside of Shanksville on September 11, 2001. The flagpoles were donated by area businesses.

11/06/01--MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS --Five year old Elle Griffiths of Cairnbrook, PA takes a look at some of the items left at a memorial near where United Flight 93 crashed just outside of the town of Shanksville, PA. The plane came down in a field on an abandoned strip mine on September 11, 2001.

11/11/01--HEALING HANDS -- Rev. Sylvia J. Baker, pastor of the Shanksville Assembly of God lays her hands on Shanksville Fire Dept. Chief Terry Shaffer and Firefighter Joe Black (left) at the front of the church during a special blessing for the firefighters and veterans in attendance at Sunday morning services on Veterans Day. At left is firefighter Joe Black; middle Chief Terry Shaffer and at right is Asst. Fire Chief Rick King. United flight 93 crashed just outside of Shanksville on September 11, 2001.

11/11/01--HEAVY TOLL -- Janet Scott, who lives 3 miles east of Shanksville, PA listens to the tolling of the church bells as the townspeople of Shanksville, PA gather for a Veterans day service and flag raising on Sunday November 11th, 2001. Fourteen flagpoles were dedicated and the church bells tolled one time for each of the victims of United flight 93 which crashed just outside of Shanksville on September 11, 2001.

11/07/01--WORDS OF HOPE -- On a bulletin board in the hallway of their school, fifth graders at Shanksville-Stoneycreek Elementary School stop to look at the many cards and letters sent to them from well wishers around the country after United Flight 93 crashed in a field a couple of miles from their town on September 11, 2001. Left to right are Brittany Norris 11; Kelsi Miller, 11 (in red striped top); Josh Leasock, 11 (in gray top); and Katy Leverknight, 11 (in purple). Brittany said of the posted letters "Whenever I come down, I always read them".

11/06/01- GOD BLESS --A sign of blessing leans on a utility pole just outside of Shanksville, PA. United Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001 in a field on an abandoned strip mine just a couple of miles out of Shanksville.

11/06/01- LOOKING OUT --Richard and Irene Hill of North Huntingdon, PA look out into a field where United Flight 93 crashed just outside of the town of Shanksville, PA. The plane came down in a field on an abandoned strip mine on September 11, 2001. They are standing near a memorial to the victims at the site.


11/07/01--HUGS FROM HAWAII --Wearing Leis just presented to them, students at Shanksville-Stoneycreek Elementary school sing along and use their hands to tell a story during the song "Aloha". The children of the school were treated to an assembly by educators from Kama'aina Kids, a multi-service non-profit childcare organization in Hawaii. They came to do a program for kids and deliver to them "Leis of Aloha" made by Hawaiian children in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. United Flight 93 crashed in a field a couple of miles from Shanksville on September 11, 2001. Hawaiian music and hula, and the teaching of the song "Aloha". Left to right: Marissa Pluta, 9; Victoria Miller, 9 and Alexis Lowrey, 10; In background between the three girls are Dalton Lindsey, (back rt) 10; and Christopher Flick, 9, (back left).


11/07/01--THANK YOU NOTE --A thank you note from a Capitol Hill employee lays among the flowers at a memorial to the victims of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. Another memorial is located at the site where United Flight 93 crashed in a field a couple of miles outside Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001.
11/07/01--DOWNTOWN SHANKSVILLE --Eight year old Dylan Koval rides past the old fire hall in Shanksville, PA after picking up a video at Ida's Country Store. Yellow ribbons don nearly every utility pole in town and a sign thanking the people of Shanksville adorns the front of the old fire hall. United Flight 93, crashed just outside of the town of Shanksville on September 11, 2001.