Flight 93 Golf Outing Raises $50K for Pennsylvania Memorial

On a day that felt more fall than summer, David Beamer and Ken Nacke spoke with vibrant spirit, a remarkable spirit they've carried since that horrific day, Sept. 11, 2001, when they lost a son and brother, respectively.

Beamer and Nacke took part in Tuesday's first Flight 93 National Memorial golf fundraiser at Essex County Country Club in West Orange.

The event raised approximately $50,000 that will be used toward the construction of a memorial to be built where Flight 93 crashed in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville in Somerset County, Pa., about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and 150 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

David Beamer's son Todd, and Ken Nacke's brother, Louis "Joey'' Nacke II, were among the 40 passengers and crew members on Flight 93 killed in the terrorist attack, one of four attacks on that day. The passengers of Flight 93 fought the four terrorists until the plane crashed into a field, killing all on board including the four hijackers.

The site will soon be home to an impressive memorial, the first major memorial to those who were killed on 9/11. Essex County Country Club became involved to help the project and to honor the memories of all that perished at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

"They attacked our military and commerce and were planning to attack our government," said Beamer. "But the people on Flight 93 had a counter attack.''

Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and former New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey also were present to play and pitch in.

"What those people went through was incredible," Codey said. "It's heart-wrenching that they did. They've become folk heroes. We should never forget. You have to thank the club for the commitment to such a worthy cause."

Ridge said the first phase of the project is near completion. He praised Essex County for stepping up and helping the noble cause.

"We're celebrating the sacrifice, the commitment and the heroism of the people on Flight 93," said Ridge, who added that the memorial would be "unique." Ridge also is the honorary co-chair of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign, which is leading the fundraising effort in partnership with the National Park Foundation, the Families of Flight 93.

"I want to express my gratitude to the club to turn over a day-and-a-half for this," he said. "The project will celebrate their bravery and sacrifice."

The first of four phases of the project is expected to be completed by the tenth anniversary of the attacks. The whole project, though, will take years to complete. The site is 2,200 acres, about two-and-a-half times the size of New York's Central Park.

Flight 93 took off from Liberty International Airport in Newark and was bound for San Francisco when the terrorists attacked. The passengers rebelled, and likely stopped an attack that was mapped out to end with the destruction of the Capital building in Washington. Beamer said it took all 40 to repel the plan – mostly strangers who came together in unimaginable conditions.

"Their voices are being heard; I'll go anywhere to keep the memory of the 40 ongoing," said Nacke, a Baltimore County (Md.) police officer. "There's nothing more important. I continue to be my brother's voice."

Beamer, who lives in Florida, shared a story of visiting the site and seeing a hawk circle the sky above the crash site. He and Nacke added that nature has soothed the area.

Nacke told a story of seeing two bear cubs in the area. Nacke organized a motor cycle ride across the country last Sept. 3 that arrived on the scheduled time and date that Flight 93 was scheduled to land in San Francisco.

"We completed Flight 93's journey," he said.

Though there were some serious golfers on the course, the main objective on the cool and sometimes rainy day was to help raise money for the $65 million project.

Essex County Country Club golfers were happy to do their part in helping to complete what plans to be a "breathtaking memorial," they said.

More than 250,000 visitors are expected each year to visit the memorial. "It's most important to be part of such a worthwhile event for heroes," said Mike Dasaro, of West Caldwell. "It should be memorialized for all time."