During the week after the 4th of July, I took a ride out to Montrose, PA. My intentions were to return a few items to a very special client and get a glimpse of the many hometown hero banners that she had ordered from me over the past two years. My brother-in-law was in town and joined me for the ride. Both he and I had never been in that area of Susquehanna County and we're both glad we took that one hour ride north.
We met Debbie at her beautiful log home which overlooked a pond and a scenic hillside that would make a nice Pennsylvania post card. She gave us directions to where we would see the banners in town, but also a stop at a 9-11 Memorial honoring her son Danny Crisman and all of the 343 firefighters that had perished that day, September 11, 2001 and who were there to save others.
We were taken back by what we saw. Sitting on 5 acres, which is cared for by Debbie, were various memorials including 6 massive stone markers with the 343 names of firefighters who gave their lives that day. Construction of the main monument began in the spring of 2002 and was finished in 2003. The main monument base is in the shape of the Pentagon, and also includes 2 black squares symbolic of the World Trade Center footprints, with a Star facing West in remembrance of Flight 93 that went down in Shanksville, PA.
Another memorial constructed of marble symbolized the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. These particular pieces had water fountains built in to them. We also saw a memorial for SSG Daniel L. Arnold, who was killed in action on 9-28-2005 in Iraq fighting the war on terrorism. His photo is etched into a plaque that is mounted on a stone at the base of a flagpole. The American flag waving above is one of two on the site. A marble bench also honors Daniel Arnold and sits near the entrance to the property. It is such a nice tribute and peaceful place to visit, honor and remember the heroes that gave their lives for so many others.
