Posted By WTAJ – May 25, 2021
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SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — A property right down the street from the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville will soon become “Patriot Park,” dedicated to remembering the patriots who were killed in the U.S. Global War on Terror.
“So few gave so much for the benefit of so many. What we want to do here is thank those people that gave so much,” said Randy Musser, President of the Patriot Park Foundation.
Those who helped “break the ground” at a ceremony Friday were the gold star mothers of two Somerset County men killed in the War on Terror.
Private First-Class Nils Thompson of Somerset County was killed in the war when he was 19.
“We loved Nils very much. We know how heartbreaking it is for all the other families too. So, this is going to be a great comfort,” said his mother, Frances Thompson.
Brian Hause of Somerset County was a Staff Sergeant, losing his life at 29.
“This park is just an incredible place where we know that our loved one will be remembered. That’s the one thing whenever you lose a loved one — any loved one really — you don’t want them to be forgotten,” said his mother, Kathy Walker.
The park will hold a 40-foot flagpole, Memorial Plaza, pavilions, picnic tables, and storyboards to share the stories of sacrifice.
Another feature: a “Field of Heroes,” which will display over 7,000 American flags to symbolize the men and women who lost their lives in the U.S. Global War on Terror.
“We’re really happy that he will be remembered along with the other soldiers that were killed,” Thompson said.
Musser said they raised about $45,000 in direct and in-kind donations so far, and with the value of the land, they’re at about $100,000 right now.
That’s enough to complete their first phase in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11 coming up this year.
“That’s the whole purpose of what we’re building this year, is to get people to come into the property, take a look at what our vision is for the property, and get engaged, whether that means helping with the foundation in some capacity, or donating funds. It takes both. It’s going to take a lot of both to make what we have in the vision here happen,” Musser said.
It will also teach future generations about those who gave their lives to protect their future.
“For the hundreds of millions of us who did not have to give anything, and did not have to sacrifice anything, it’s a place where we can come and say, ‘thank you’ to those that did,” Musser said.
By Nicole Fuschino
