There's controversy again at the Flight 93 Crash site Temporary Memorial in Somerset County, Pa. According to a June 6, 2007, Tribune-Review newspaper story. Mike Svonavec, part owner of Svonavec Inc., a stone quarry company owing the 273-acre property, said the company has paid for site security since the monies for sheriff's deputies dried up. Svonavec placed a collection box at the site to help with the cost of security. Update: He will allow the National Park Service to remove the collections box. The company hasn't sold the land to the National Park Service because it wants to negotiate with the Park Service, not the Families of Flight 93. Whether the collection box is appropriate is at the base of the new conflict. In light of the new debate, I'm reposting my opinion on the development of the Flight 93 Crash Site Memorial: When we have company, among our destination choices is the Flight 93 crash site. There is much controversy concerning creating a memorial on the rural country site. It saddens me. As Monte and I took three youth from Missouri to the site last July, I was again impressed with the minimal memorial that rose up on the mining-farming site. It has the simplicity of the scantly populated area, and offers visitors an opportunity to share in their mourning with thousands of others. At most they need a simple building on the outskirts of the property to deal with the historicity of the event and better restroom facilities. There is a constant flow of people, but rarely has it been overcrowded when I've visited. Yes, there is a problem for big events, but it has been dealt with using tents and electrical trucks. We also drove by during the fifth anniversary events. It gave me a feel of the future due to a slew of electrical and media vehicles parked on the wayside. Fortunately, other times are much more in line with the solemnity of the event. I personally wish the site would remain the way it is with slight improvement. But politics will intervene and "improvements" will be accomplished---at which time I will reluctantly take my company to the site. However, I will compensate by sharing my collection of photographs of the original simple memorial with them, and share my written descriptions of that memorial. Then they can decide which of the two types of memorials is more appropro. | 
