GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Thursday marks 13 years since nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives in a single day--September 11, 2001. A beloved Greensboro woman was among them.
Sandy Waugh Bradshaw was a flight attendant on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed into an empty field in rural Shanksville, P.a. at 10:03 a.m. She was among the seven crew members and 33 passengers who heroically tried to overtake the hijackers.
The crash site in Shanksville, P.a. is now the Flight 93 Memorial. That is where Bradshaw's family is Thursday morning for a special ceremony. Bradshaw's mother, Pat Waugh, told WFMY News 2 Bradshaw's children were asked to participate in the service. Alexandria Bradshaw, now 15, will read her mother's name. Nathan Bradshaw, now almost 14, will lay a wreath.
Waugh said she had been planning to attend an annual remembrance event at her daughter's former high school--Eastern Randolph--until the children had been asked to participate in the Shanksville ceremony.
"It's very nice. I'm very honored that they're getting the opportunity to take part in the program, along with some other children. It's not just them. So I think this will be nice for them," Waugh said.
Waugh said she travels from Greensboro to Shanksville once a year, though not always on Sept. 11. She said making the trip used to be very hard but being there now brings her comfort.
"It helps me to go there. You know people have asked me how can you stand to go there and actually it does have its sad parts, but it's helpful for me. I feel close to her when I go there," she said.
Waugh said since the family is in Shanksville, they are unable to be a part of the local dedication ceremony at the Carolina Field of Honor. That is where the War Memorial Foundation is unveiling a 9/11 artifact--a steel beam, recovered by D.H. Griffin, from the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Of bringing the 9/11 artifact to the Triad, Waugh said, "It's really great, I think. It's nice to have things like that around in this area to help people remember, too. So much of our community is involved because of Sandy."
Waugh encourages community members to visit the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, P.a. Part of the site is currently under construction, as the National Park Service erects a visitor's center, a flight path walkway and learning center.
The Flight 93 Memorial also will be receiving a Congressional Gold Medal, awarded by Congressional leaders Wednesday during a ceremony at the Pentagon. A Congressional Gold Medal will be placed at all thee crash sites, in memory of the victims.
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