Hosted By President Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush and Speaker John Boehner, National Park Foundation's "An Evening of Remembrance" Raises $2 Million For Flight 93 National Memorial

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May 16, 2012, 02:30 ET

$8 Million Still Needed in Funding To Complete National Memorial in Shanksville, PA

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night, nearly 400 guests joined the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, and co-hosts President Bill Clinton, President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Speaker of the House John Boehner at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. for "An Evening of Remembrance" honoring the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who fought back against their hijackers on September 11, 2001, ultimately crashing their plane and preventing a second aerial attack on Washington D.C. Today, the National Park Foundation's Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign announced the event brought in approximately two million dollars leaving eight million dollars in funding to be raised to complete the Shanksville, Pennsylvania memorial.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090630/DC40408LOGO)

NBC's "Meet the Press" moderator, David Gregory, presided as the master of ceremonies and country-music artist Vince Gill performed moving musical tributes, including his emotional hit "Go Rest High On That Mountain" which played while images of the 40 passengers and crew scrolled on the 40 foot screen on behind the stage.

"All future fundraising can build off of the momentum of this moment," said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "Last night's event has brought us closer to the completion of this Memorial, ensuring that those lost on September 11, 2001, including the 40 heroes of Flight 93, are never forgotten."

Co-hosts President Bill Clinton, President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Speaker of the House John Boehner were joined by many family members of the passengers and crew of Flight 93, resident and local supporters from the Shanksville community and dignitaries including: Governor Ed Rendell, Governor Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Secretary of Veteran Affairs Eric Shinseki, Governor Dirk Kempthorne, General Tommy Franks, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), Congressman Mark Critz (D-PA), Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki (Embassy of Japan), Deputy Chief of Mission Jens Hanefeld (Embassy of Germany), and Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis.

For pictures and video from the event, please visit www.nationalparks.org and for more information on the Flight 93 National Memorial and how to support the campaign, please go to www.honorflight93.org.

ABOUT THE FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL
On September 24, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Flight 93 National Memorial Act. The Act created a new national park unit to commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our nation's capital. The memorial is near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed with the loss of its 40 passengers and crew. For more information about the Flight 93 National Memorial, please visit www.nps.gov/flni. For information on how to make a donation and help build the memorial, go to www.honorflight93.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
You are the owner of 84 million acres of the world's most treasured memorials, landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites -- all protected in America's nearly 400 national parks. Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks. We work hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. Join us in supporting your national parks -- this is your land. www.nationalparks.org.

Join us – This is Your Land. www.nationalparks.org
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Contact: Marjorie Hall, [email protected], 202-354-6480

SOURCE National Park Foundation