Friends of Flight 93 seek volunteers for annual Plant a Tree effort

The Friends of Flight 93 are closing in on a goal of planting 150,000 seedlings over 10 years, with the project at the Flight 93 National Memorial site expected to conclude in just a few years.

This year’s Plant a Tree effort will be held April 26-27, and interested volunteers may register through April 12.

New this year, the National Park Service is partnering with the Pennsylvania WoodMobile, a project of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Hardwoods Development Council, during the annual reforestation event.

The WoodMobile helps showcase the importance of reforestation of mining landscapes, and how integral trees are as a part of the original architect’s memorial design.

During this eighth annual Plant a Tree event, approximately 13,600 seedlings and native shrubs will be planted over 20 acres. The reforestation area also will be seeded with a native pollinator seed mix to increase the diversity of native plants and improve the wildlife habitat on the former surface coal mine land.

United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a nearby field on 9/11 as some of the 40 passengers and crew struggled with terrorists believed to have been planning to use the aircraft in an attack on the nation’s capital. Everyone aboard died.

To date, volunteers have assisted with planting 116,318 native tree seedlings over 167 acres at the memorial site.

Participants must wear boots and be at least age 14.

This year’s terrain is the most challenging, planners say, with steep slopes and rocky, hard ground. Participants should bring their own reusable water bottle to the memorial, which is a trash-free site.

No planting expertise is needed, but pre-registration is required at flight93friends.org.

For sponsorship opportunities, email Brooke Neel at brooke_neel@partner.nps.gov.