September 30, 2009 > Flight 93 memorial earns award for Michael Emerson Flight 93 memorial earns award for Michael Emerson By Corinne Davis Photos By Dale Stone Union City Council expressed its pride in Michael L. Emerson at its meeting on September 22, 2009. Emerson is the creator and originator of the Flight 93 Memorial honoring the heroes of Flight 93 who prevented hijackers from using their airplane as a terrorist weapon on September 11, 2001. He approached the City Council with an idea and conceptual design and was referred to the Parks & Recreation Commission which endorsed the concept in January 2004. Bay Area landscape architect Robert Mowat volunteered to prepare a design for the Memorial and a site in Sugar Mill Landing Park was chosen. For three years, Emerson secured materials, supplies and services valued at more than $250,000 and raised an additional $28,000 in private donations, including his own, to endow a maintenance fund. The Flight 93 Memorial in Union City has brought regional and national recognition and attracts thousands of visitors annually. There would be no Flight 93 Memorial in Union City without Emerson's hard work.