October 30, 2021 Quecreek Mine Rescue Site

http://www.quecreekrescue.org/index.php

Today’s journey took us to the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site.  On July 24, 2002 coal miners, guided by an inaccurate map of the mine, broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 150 million gallons of water.  Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine others were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water filled mine 240 feet underground. After a ferocious 77 hour rescue mission, all nine miners were pulled above ground, one at a time, transported in a cage-type cylinder.

Our docent, Vicki, took us thru all that those 9 trapped miners experienced during that period as well as all the miracles that happened to keep them alive.

I will not go into the details here but if you want to know more, here are some great sites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quecreek_Mine_rescue

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YUyN5mUds351IO76qa9lZwf_2YbpO_IZ--3PzlunSY0/edit

Disney also did a video that is free on YouTube but I am having a hard time linking it here.  If you search for: The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (2002 TV Special)”, it should bring you to that video.

Once we heard the story, we went thru the museum which not only told the story of the miners but had some artifacts of the mines.

The pillars inside the museum show the width of the mine pathways: 

The real cage that brought the miners to safety:

Vicki directed us outside where we found the 6” bore hole that gave air to the miners and the actual rescue shaft.

Inside the mine, between the pillars, this was the passages.  The miners could not stand up as they worked. No, we did not go in.

From the owners of the farm where the rescue took place.

The oak surrounded by 9 pine trees:

The seven foot miner statue at the entrance to the site.

What a great visit and we highly recommend visiting.  We were blessed because our docent, Vicki, was giving a presentation when we arrived and she was wonderful in explaining the site and what happened.  Ask for her if you visit.

We did want to see Fort Necessity on our visit this time but it will have to wait.  So tomorrow we towards Ohio and Kentucky.

 

 

October 28, 2021 Flight 93 Memorial and Patriot Park

THIS IS A PICTURE INTENSIVE BLOG.

Last night it rained and as we headed to the memorial, we could see the fog lifting from the valleys:

We passed numerous farms and, of course, my favorite farms – marshmallows – LOL:

In 2013, Andy and I were at the Flight 93 National Memorial for the first time – here is the link to that blog:

http://thehitzels.blogspot.com/search/label/Flight%2093%20NM

At that time, only the visitor shelter, walkway, and Wall of Names was finished.  In 2017, my friends and I did a road trip here to see the newly opened visitor center and the trails that led thru the 40 memorial groves and the area between the visitor center and Wall of Names. 

It was emotional both times and was emotional again today.  The newest tribute is the Tower of Voices and we were so blessed with a little wind to hear them sing.

The Tower:

I made a video with my phone but all you can hear is the wind .

We made our way to the visitor center and museum.  The museum was awesome and emotional.  Sorry, no photography allowed.

The visitor center from above.  Notice the cuts in the building.  That is the flight path of the plane.

This is at the end of the balcony:

I know it may be hard to see but if you enlarge the photo and look straight above the d(in day), you will see a white line (which is the Wall of Names), beyond that is the gate and then beyond that is the boulder where the plane crashed.  (There are no words…)  I think this is the first time that I truly saw that flight path.

A view from the balcony facing the museum.

The balcony:

The Wall of Names:

It is formed from 40 individual marble panels engraved with their names.

The Ceremonial Gate:

If you enlarge the picture, you will see the boulder that marks where the plane crashed.

Here was the flight path.. Over this hill, upside down, over the wall,

Past the wall into the field beyond.

 

It was a very emotional experience.  There is a wealth of information on the Flight 93 National Memorial here:  https://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm

After leaving the park, we decided to see the countryside.  We saw a sign for Patriots Park and decided to go see it.  Oh My….

Here it is:

Awesome, isn’t it.  Each flag represents a person lost during the war on terrorism including the 13 service members killed in August at the Kabul Airport.

“The battle that raged onboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, prevented what would have been another awful tragedy on an already tragic day. In fact, the passengers onboard Flight 93 can be referred to as, “the first combatants’ in what came to be known as the “Global War on Terror”. Since that infamous day, millions of Americans have bravely served in the military and over 7000 brave men and women have lost their lives in the Nation’s efforts to eradicate terrorism. Thousands more have suffered severe and debilitating injuries. Patriot Park has been conceived as a place where our gratitude can be expressed.

The park was started by volunteers and is maintained by volunteers to honor our brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. “

Their website and more information can be found here: https://www.patriotparkfoundation.org/index.php

What a tribute.

We continued our travels and came upon fields of the windmills – very up close and personal.

Chickens everywhere in our paths:

More marshmallow fields:

And even a cool covered bridge:

We ended our evening at the Somerset American Legion before heading home.

I will leave you with one last picture of today.

 

Enjoy today.

PS.  Sorry for some of the blurry pictures – still trying to learn my camera.