From Deseret News archives:
3-acre land purchase starts Flight 93 memorial
Acquisition taken as sign park movement gaining momentum
The purchase of the three acres only a fraction of the 2,200 planned for the Flight 93 Memorial park is largely a symbolic gesture. But to many it is a sign that, at long last, the acquisition of land to honor the passengers and crew who thwarted an attack on Washington is gaining momentum.
"This is a first small step in what will be the larger picture of getting the balance of the acreage," said Larry Catuzzi, whose daughter Lauren Grandcolas was aboard the plane.
Supporters have overcome opposition to the park's size and cost, but federal funding has yet to flow to the National Park Service, which is overseeing the site's creation. A powerful House member from North Carolina blocked federal funding for the land for three years before dropping his opposition.
But park proponents still face other hurdles unwilling sellers, negotiations over mineral rights, and environmental hazards from decades of coal mining at the site.
The park would be surrounded by 1,800 acres of protected land, mostly woods, fields and farms.
The start-up costs are estimated at nearly $60 million, about one-third of that for the land.
"We are still awaiting the federal funding," said Joanne Hanley, superintendent of the Flight 93 Memorial. "The negotiations with landowners are in different stages, but we have to have money to move forward."
The $10 million federal request for land acquisition was contested by U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-N.C., chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on interior, environment and related agencies. Under intense public pressure, Taylor dropped his opposition in June. But Congress has yet to vote on the request for the project's first $5 million installment.
The Families of Flight 93 group decided to move forward on its own this summer, using a portion of the $1.2 million it received from the opening weekend box office receipts of the movie "United 93" to buy the three acres.
Patrick White, whose cousin Louis J. Nacke II died in the crash, said the group was on track to close on two larger parcels this fall.
Comments
- Holiday album fun for Archuleta 4:17 p.m.
- Dining out: China House 4:11 p.m.
- New Christmas CDs this season 4:10 p.m.
- '09 trying for Obama; Dems fret '10 4:00 p.m.
- Public radio popular in S.L. market 3:57 p.m.
- Xmas comes to town with Mitchell 3:55 p.m.
- Reports: Cincinnati's Kelly to N.Dame 3:51 p.m.
- Film spotlights Drs. Without Borders 3:42 p.m.
- Holy cow, TV language is bad 3:38 p.m.
- Prison for sitter who molested kids 3:22 p.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- BCS = power conference monopoly
- Y.'s Emery bruised, but rarely beaten
- Mutated version of H1N1 found
- Utes crash the glass to get big win
- Letters: Global warming a lie
254 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
192 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
148 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
148 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
123 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
107 - Revive full food tax?
105
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
Well, I did it. I gave in to the seductions of the ridiculously sexy...
"The education system of the US has continued to produce a majority of people...
Ewwwwww! What bunch of mean hateful people who are commenting about Sarah...
I don't suppose there are any defense attorneys out there who feel strongly...
Elizabeth Smart should be able to decide his fate. She was the victim. She...
We could do well to look hard at Austria's example. Yeah, they gave in to EU...
Thanks, Kudos @master of the obvious Several national syndicated...
'I probably haven't met one person in my life that thinks that violence...
When I started grad school more than two years ago and moved out of state I...
Thats right folks get ready for the greatest president to ever walk in the...
The Doc said that the accused was not competent to stand trial. Well, okay....




You can be the first to comment on this story.