It’s been 24 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks forever changed the face of American life. Around the country, people are planning ways to honor the memory of those who died and the heroes who responded that day.

In Pennsylvania, one of those memorials will be bringing the state and local governments together to complete a walking trail that extends from Manhattan to Somerset County to Washington D.C.

Andrew Hamilton is the driving force of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance, which will one day soon, connect several states and communities with hundreds of miles of trail to sites affected by Sept. 11.

He spoke Thursday at Carbon County’s 9/11 service and Thursday evening at the 9/11 service in Tamaqua.

The 1,500 mile trails linking each memorial site to the next will consist of on- and off-road segments.

Making up the bulk of the distance between locations, 129 municipalities across 25 counties will work with the Department of Conservation and National Resources and the Department of Transportation to mark the route.

The National Memorial Trail is to remember the souls lost on that tragic day,” Hamilton said. “The trail is 1,500 miles long and connects the national memorials together. Of that, 903 miles of the trail cross Pennsylvania from southwest to northeast. The trail connects people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia.”

In Carbon and Schuylkill counties, it is proposed to connect from Jim Thorpe and the D & L Trail to Pottsville.

The goal, Hamilton said, is to have the route of all 903 miles in the state secured by the 25th anniversary next September.

Other speakers echoed Hamilton’s thoughts, both on the events that unfolded that day, and the trail plans taking shape.

“Pennsylvania is proud to honor the heroes who ran towards danger to keep Americans safe and remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “The 9/11 National Memorial Trail provides a meaningful way for communities across our Commonwealth to connect, reflect, and pay tribute.”

“The trail gives families like mine the opportunity to walk the path and remember our loved ones that we lost on September 11, 2001, and enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania,” said Debby Borza, board member, 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance. My hope is that it continues to serve as a place of reflection and education.”

The trail is part of a much larger push by Shapiro to prioritize outdoor recreation in the state’s economy. His administration boasts $19 billion in economic impact from the industry across the state, marking a two billion dollar increase under his tenure.

On Wednesday, he visited REI in Mechanicsburg to promote the state’s Outdoor Business Alliance, which connects the recreation industry with grants and partnerships.

REI’s CEO and President Mary Beth Laughton highlighted Pennsylvania-based businesses supported by the co-op. The Mechanicsburg store was at the top of the nearly 200 REI locations across the country last year, underscoring an appetite for outdoor recreation in the commonwealth, even as public lands face new legislative threats.

“Today, our public lands and the people who steward them are under real pressure,” said Laughton. “From funding cuts to policy rollbacks to climate change and other impacts, the outdoor experience in America faces relentless challenges. The outdoors give us something truly priceless — space to breathe, to restore, and to connect with one another.”

To that end, Nathan Reigner, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation, commended Shapiro and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn for their foresight in creating an office that demonstrates the link between conservation and economics.

“We have more than 9,000 outdoor recreation businesses in Pennsylvania, from national household brands to homegrown side hustles,” said Reigner. “The Office of Outdoor Recreation is proud to have helped open the doors of opportunity for these businesses.”

By Christina Lengyel | The Center Square