History of the Rose Garden

On September 11, 2001, multiple terrorist attacks were launched by crashing planes full of fellow Americans into the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Terrorists on a fourth plane, intended for the U.S. Capitol Building, were attacked and overwhelmed by the heroic passengers of United Airlines Flight 93. The plane crashed in a quiet field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, taking the lives of all 40 passengers and crew members on board. In sacrificing their own lives, they saved the lives of countless others.

The Flight 93 National Memorial was erected at the crash site, and just ¼-mile east from the entrance to the memorial sits the “Remember Me” Rose Garden. Many acres of land were purchased by the families of the heroes of 9/11 as a buffer zone around the park. The Families donated 13 acres in 2009 for the construction of a rose garden, to be a “Living Tribute” to the memory of their loved ones.

Remember Me Rose Garden, Inc. was established as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization to make this dream come true. The Rose Garden honors the spirit of the men, women, and children who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and provides a tranquil setting where all in need of healing can find a peaceful sanctuary. It is a safe place to build community, promote stewardship of the earth, reflect on those lost and those who survived, and unite Americans against all forms of hate and anger that threaten peace throughout the world.

Although the vision for the completed Rose Garden has changed over the years, its purpose remains the same – to honor the heroes of 9/11. This news clip features Clay Mankamyer, Chairman of the Remember Me Rose Garden, describing the events of 9/11 and the construction of this “living tribute.”