Governor Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn unveiled the final sign needed to complete Pennsylvania’s 920-mile section of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and honoring the lives lost and heroes who responded that day.
The 1,500-mile 9/11 National Memorial Trail connects the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. The trail passes through Pennsylvania communities and landscapes, creating a living memorial where people can walk, bike, hike, reflect, and remember the lives lost and heroes who responded on September 11, 2001. Pennsylvania has the most mileage along the trail of any state.
“Twenty-five years ago, our nation was forever changed, and Pennsylvania carries a special responsibility to remember the lives lost and honor the heroes who responded that day — especially here in Shanksville, where the passengers and crew of Flight 93 showed extraordinary courage and helped save countless lives,” said Governor Shapiro. “Today, we’re unveiling the final sign to complete Pennsylvania’s portion of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, creating a lasting way for people to walk, bike, and reflect on the history we must never forget. As we mark 25 years since September 11, let us never forget those who died that day — and may their memories forever be a blessing.”
Over the past year, more than 2,200 signs have been installed on state and local roads across Pennsylvania, marking the trail and helping visitors navigate its route. The signage initiative includes approximately 1,000 signs along state roads and 1,200 along local roads.
“PennDOT was proud to help complete this statewide signage effort ahead of this solemn milestone,” said Secretary Carroll. “The stories of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 — and everyone our nation lost 25 years ago — are woven into our communities and our nation. These signs will serve as lasting reminders of their lives, their courage, and the importance of remembering.”
PennDOT coordinated with the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance to review and approve appropriate bike routes on state roads across Pennsylvania. PennDOT also supported the Alliance in developing the trail’s route signs, which feature the 9/11 National Memorial Trail logo, a bicycle symbol, and “9-11 NMT.”
The ceremonial sign is also a reminder of the personal stories behind the trail and the families who have worked for 25 years to preserve the memory of their loved ones. Debby Borza, a member of the Trail Alliance Board and mother of Deora Bodley — the youngest passenger killed aboard Flight 93 — has been a longtime advocate for the trail and for ensuring future generations understand the significance of September 11.
The Flight 93 National Memorial also includes the Memorial Groves, planted in 2012. Forty groves of 40 native hardwood trees — one grove for each passenger and crew member — extend between the semicircular road to the Memorial and the Field of Honor. DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry has provided more than 60,000 seedlings to support reforestation and ecological restoration across the memorial landscape since 2012.
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to walk, bike, hike, or visit the markers along the 9/11 National Memorial Trail to honor the lives lost and the heroes who responded on September 11, 2001.
