Flight of Valor
Encyclopedia
Flight of Valor is a musical piece written by James Swearingen
as a memorial for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93
, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania
, during the September 11, 2001, attacks.
It was commissioned in 2002 by the Somerset County Community Band .
The president of the Community Band wanted to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Band by commissioning an original piece of music. He contacted James Swearingen, the favorite composer of the Community Band's director, to write the piece. When Swearingen realized Somerset's proximity to Shanksville, both thought it fitting to have the piece honor the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93. Without a grant to cover part of the cost, the project was not possible, and so the Somerset Eagles Aerie 1801 and Ladies Auxiliary stepped forward to pay the entire amount. Swearingen agreed to write the piece with enough time for the Band to practice for the one-year anniversary Community Memorial Concert, on the evening of September 11, 2002.
James Swearingen
James Swearingen is an American composer and arranger. He holds a Masters Degree from Ohio State University and a Bachelors Degree from Bowling Green State University and is currently Professor of Music, Department Chair of Music Education at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio.The music he writes...
as a memorial for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93 was United Airlines' scheduled morning transcontinental flight across the United States from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport in California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Boeing 757–222 aircraft operating the...
, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
, during the September 11, 2001, attacks.
It was commissioned in 2002 by the Somerset County Community Band .
The president of the Community Band wanted to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Band by commissioning an original piece of music. He contacted James Swearingen, the favorite composer of the Community Band's director, to write the piece. When Swearingen realized Somerset's proximity to Shanksville, both thought it fitting to have the piece honor the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93. Without a grant to cover part of the cost, the project was not possible, and so the Somerset Eagles Aerie 1801 and Ladies Auxiliary stepped forward to pay the entire amount. Swearingen agreed to write the piece with enough time for the Band to practice for the one-year anniversary Community Memorial Concert, on the evening of September 11, 2002.