Two years ago, near the anniversary of 9/11, we had the opportunity to do some sightseeing around Johnstown and Shanksville while on a camping trip.  We checked out the Johnstown Flood Museum.  The video they showed was so impressive, we bought it to bring home and show our family.

We lucked out in that the weather was beautiful - upper 70s and sunny the whole time.  Perfect for walking around outside.

You can get a map from the Visitors Bureau in Johnstown that lists I think 15 historic covered bridges in the area.  We decided to check some out.  It was kind of like a scavenger hunt.  Some of the bridges were well marked and out in the open, some we had to find on old dirt roads, back in the woods.  It was a lot of fun.  Some are used for storage, some are used for walking, and one we even were still able to drive over.

This particular one in the photo needed a lot of work - on the other side was what looked like it was once a picnic area, but now is overgrown.  The bridge was used to store what looks like a wagon used for hay rides.

But the highlight of our trip was definitely visiting the Flight 93 Crash Site in Shanksville.  If I say one thing about seeing this site, it’s that it was very humbling.    It was very sad, but afterward I was so grateful that I went there - I think everyone should.

You drive down a narrow, one lane residental/farm road through the woods.  Suddenly you turn left onto a small road - if you blink, you’ll miss it.  Then, suddenly, there it is.  You come out in an open field and you can see the chain link fence with all of the memorials stuck to it.

You can see waaayyy out in the field (see photo below) a single American Flag that markes the exact spot the plane went down in.

There is a small shack with photos of the event and we had a guide there telling about some little known facts that made me appreciate those heros on that plane even more.

Right on the other side of that line of trees behind where the plane went down is the only school Shanksville has - K-12.  The entire future of Shanksville missed being hit by mere yards.

Anyway, I don’t want to depress anyone, but I really feel this is a place everyone should visit.  Ground Zero in NY is of course, humbling as well, but this was a whole different type of feeling.  Really brings back pride in your fellow man and our country.