On September 11, 2001, United Flight 93 was the only hijacked plane that did not hit its target. Thanks to determined passengers who fought with the terrorists, the plane crashed into a field just outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania rather than hitting its Washington D.C. target. Plans have been made to create a memorial at the location of the crash site. However, the design that was chosen (among over 1,000 possibilities) has caused many to complain. The design, created by architect Paul Muroch, includes a tower that will hold 40 wind chimes and an arc of maple trees around the edge of the field. Critics say that the tower resembles an Islamic minaret (the tower on a mosque) and that the arc of maple trees resembles the crescent moon.
Explore 20th Century History
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.
Comments
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? WE SHOULD HAVE MICKEY MOUSE AS THE MEMORIAL WAAAAY BEFORE WE PUT ANY, ANY, ANY SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS ANYTHING ISLAMIC! I know, that all symbols were researched, so you have to wonder what the architect was thinking. A crescent moom is Communist (in nature) AND Islamic! DO NOT put that up as a symbol for wonderful people who lost their lives to those motherfu**ing Islamic extremists! What a horrible way of saying “Thank you.” They deserve better, more. WE deserve better, more.