PG Special Report: After 23 years, impact of 9/11 Flight 93 crash still runs deep

Families of victims, first responders still suffer physical, emotional scars

Twenty-three years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the families of the victims of Flight 93 and the first responders who rushed to the scene are still struggling with the physical and emotional scars of that fateful day.

For the families of the 40 passengers and crew members who died when Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the pain of losing their loved ones is still raw. Many of them have dedicated their lives to keeping the memory of their family members alive through scholarships, foundations, and other initiatives.

The first responders who rushed to the scene of the crash also continue to suffer from the physical and emotional effects of that day. Many of them have developed respiratory problems, cancer, and other health issues as a result of their exposure to the toxic fumes and debris at the crash site.

'The wound is still there'

"The wound is still there," said Patrick White, whose father, Thomas Burnett Jr., was killed in the crash. "It's not as raw as it was 23 years ago, but it's still there."

White said that he and his family have found some solace in the years since the crash by working to keep his father's memory alive. They have established a scholarship in his name and have worked to raise awareness of the events of 9/11.

"We want to make sure that people never forget what happened on 9/11," White said. "And we want to make sure that the victims and their families are never forgotten."

'We're still fighting for our health'

The first responders who rushed to the scene of the Flight 93 crash are also still struggling with the physical and emotional effects of that day. Many of them have developed respiratory problems, cancer, and other health issues as a result of their exposure to the toxic fumes and debris at the crash site.

"We're still fighting for our health," said John Feal, a former firefighter who was one of the first responders at the crash site. "We're still suffering from the effects of 9/11."

Feal said that he and other first responders have been fighting for years to get the medical care and compensation they need from the government. He said that many first responders have been denied benefits because the government has claimed that their illnesses are not related to 9/11.

"We're not going to give up," Feal said. "We're going to keep fighting until we get the help we need."