It's not all about Baseball

Here I am waiting just below the US Steel Building in Pittsburgh, leeching off free wireless Internet waiting for the train to go to Chicago.

Today was a scheduled day off for me and the NL Central roadtrip. I visited a lot with my family and friends and took a very sombering and depressing trip. We drove out to Shanksville, PA and the Flight 93 memorial. I feel that it is very important to talk about what I experienced today.

The memorial is in a pristine Pennsylvania farmland setting. It is well of the beaten path that involves many windy country roads and past quaint, secluded villages in the western half of this state. The memorial itself is very rudimentary, but effective. Set amongst green, verdant meadows, the memorial lies at the top of a windy hill that is about 500 yards from the actual crash site. It is only about an acre in size total including the parking lot.

The memorial does not compose of any government commissioned structure. It is all mementos of people who have come and visited here and left various artifacts. Although the National Park service runs it, it does not have the appearance of a typical National Park.

The people who died on that flight are the real heroes of this nation. These were average Americans who did an extraordinary thing, and paid with their lives. It brings a tear to my eye when I think of how many innocent Americans died on 9/11, and it chokes me up more to remember the forty individuals on Flight 93. We should worship the act of heroism that these people displayed and never, ever forget their sacrifice.

This blog is about baseball. This trip is about baseball. But the underlying theme is that I have the opportunity to do this. It is people like the passengers on Flight 93 who allow me, and every other American, the opportunity. Selfless acts of heroism is the foundation of our country and allows for you and I to enjoy the many liberties of this country, like baseball.

There was a section where you could write a tribute and it would be placed at the memorial. This is what I wrote:

"Dear Flight 93 passengers,
My countrymen and I are forever in your debt. Your sacrifice to save so many lives on that day will never, ever be forgotten. You serve as an inspiration to me and I will always remember your courage when faced with a difficult situation. You truly are heroic. May you all rest in peace and may God bless you forever.

Sincerely,
A.J. O'Connell"

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)