INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest veterans
organization will posthumously honor the passengers and crew of United
Airlines Flight 93 who gave their lives combating terrorists aboard the
hijacked aircraft on Sept. 11, 2001.
The American Legion Gold Medal of Heroism will be presented to their
families during a private dinner near Shanksville, Pa. tonight.
A resolution passed by the organization's National Executive Committee in
May authorized the award, stating in part: "It is widely believed that certain
passengers on board Flight 93 took physical action to prevent the terrorist
hijackers from carrying out their planned devastation, which could have
resulted in the deaths of thousands to include some American Legion leaders on
Capitol Hill.
"The actions of said passengers in preventing the terrorists from
completing their mission of death, knowing all the while that they would be
sacrificing their own lives ... was a demonstration of unselfish heroism in
its highest and most noble form. Such action undoubtedly saved many other
innocent lives."
Representing National Commander Ronald F. Conley who is in Washington,
D.C. to testify before a joint meeting of the House and Senate Veterans
Affairs Committees will be Past National Commander Richard J. Santos.
Ironically, both Legion leaders were in Washington last Sept. 11 when the
attacks occurred and evacuated Capitol Hill just prior to Santos' testifying.
It is widely believed that the terrorists intended to divert Flight 93 to
Washington, D.C. with the Capitol building as their primary target.
Pennsylvania State American Legion Commander Gerald Zorn will accompany
Santos.
The 2.8 million-member American Legion presents the Gold Medal of Heroism
"for bravery far above and beyond the norm."
SOURCE American Legion
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Related links:
http://www.legion.org
CONTACT:
Joe March, +1-317-630-1253, Pager:
+1-317-382-7745, or Steve Thomas, +1-202-263-2982, or Pager:
+1-800-759-8888, #115-8679, both of the American Legion
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