Washington will welcome U.S. Air Force Maj. Heather “Lucky” Penney as the featured speaker at its annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony. Penney was one of two fighter pilots sent to intercept United Airlines Flight 93 on the morning of the 2001 terrorist attacks, before passengers and crew fought back and brought the plane down in Pennsylvania.
Key takeaways
- The ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 6 at Washington Park.
- Heather “Lucky” Penney will deliver the keynote address.
- The event will move to Five Points Washington if weather prevents an outdoor ceremony.
- The volunteer organizing committee has received a $2,500 city tourism grant but is still seeking donations.
The ceremony is being organized by an all-volunteer committee led by co-chairs Leri Slonneger and David Houseworth. Slonneger told the Washington City Council that additional financial support from residents and businesses is needed to help bring Penney to the community.
A mission that ended differently
Penney was serving as a first lieutenant in the Air National Guard on Sept. 11, 2001. She and her commanding officer, Marc Sasseville, were ordered into the air to stop Flight 93 as it headed toward Washington, D.C.
The pilots were prepared to force down the hijacked aircraft, even if that meant sacrificing their own lives. They did not reach the plane, however, because passengers and crew members attempted to regain control. Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone aboard but preventing the aircraft from reaching its suspected target.
From pioneering pilot to military veteran
Penney went on to serve more than 20 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including deployments to Iraq. She was among the first generation of female U.S. fighter pilots and flew the F-16 for roughly a decade.
Her appearance is expected to give the remembrance ceremony a direct connection to the military response on Sept. 11 and to the people aboard Flight 93 whose actions changed the outcome of the day.
Ceremony details and community support
The Sept. 6 program will take place at Washington Park. Organizers have selected Five Points Washington as the backup venue in case of inclement weather.
The city’s tourism grant provides part of the event’s funding, but the committee says more contributions are necessary to cover expenses associated with the guest speaker and ceremony. Residents and businesses interested in supporting the event can reach out to the organizing committee through the City of Washington.
