1Commemorating the American lives that were lost in the tragic
2events of September 11, 2001, recognizing the significance of
3these events in American history and encouraging this
4Commonwealth's school districts to incorporate these events
5into their curriculum.

6WHEREAS, On September 11, 2001, the United States of America
7suffered a serious terrorist attack within its domestic
8territory which led to the tragic loss of 2,973 lives; and

9WHEREAS, This terrorist attack marked a pivotal day in our
10nation's history which forever affected America's geopolitical
11role in the world, leading to a presidential declaration of a
12new "War on Terror"; and

13WHEREAS, In the years since this declaration, thousands of
14Americans have valiantly fought in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and
15other lands around the world with more than 6,500 losing their
16lives in this noble fight for freedom in the War on Terror, and
17Pennsylvania citizens are among these brave men and women; and

18WHEREAS, Conflicts continue around the globe as the United

1States and its allies pursue their mission to rid the world of
2those who would take the lives of innocent people as the 19
3cowardly terrorists did on American soil on September 11, 2001;
4and

5WHEREAS, This Commonwealth and many of its residents were
6impacted by the events of September 11, 2001, as passenger
7Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Somerset County,
8after two hijacked planes had flown into the Twin Towers in New
9York City and a third plane had struck the Pentagon in Virginia,
10together resulting in 58 Pennsylvania citizens losing their
11lives and 42 innocent Pennsylvania children losing a parent; and

12WHEREAS, Given the enormous historical significance of these
13events and the considerable impact they have had upon America's
14political and cultural life, this Commonwealth's school
15districts should incorporate these events into their government,
16social studies and history curriculums at the elementary, middle
17school and high school levels; and

18WHEREAS, In the years following September 11, 2001, a plan
19has unfolded to establish the September 11th National Memorial
20Trail, which is a 1,100-mile hiking, biking and driving trail
21connecting Virginia to the Flight 93 National Memorial site in
22Somerset County, with a second leg extending from the Pentagon
23in Virginia to the World Trade Center Ground Zero site in New
24York City, and a third and final leg stretching between the
25Flight 93 National Memorial site in Shanksville to the World
26Trade Center Ground Zero site in New York City; and

27WHEREAS, The second leg of the trail includes the Garden of
28Reflection, which is situated in Memorial Park amid the natural
29beauty and historic farmland in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks
30County, and is the Commonwealth's official memorial dedicated to

1remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001; and

2WHEREAS, Consistent with the enlightened intentions of these
3commemorative efforts, this Commonwealth's policymakers must
4ensure that present and future generations of students are
5taught the importance and gravity of the events that occurred on
6this most significant historical date in American history and of
7this country's enduring victorious spirit and commitment to
8fighting terrorism and spreading the cause of freedom around the
9world; therefore be it

10RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
11American lives lost in the tragic events that occurred on
12September 11, 2001, and encourage this Commonwealth's school
13districts to incorporate teaching about this historic date into
14its government, history and social studies curriculums at the
15elementary, middle school and high school levels.