The 9:57 Project

09/24/2026

The 9:57 Project conducted another powerful leadership event this week at Troy University, our first college undergrad programming. Gordie Felt, brother of Flight 93 passenger Ed Felt, joined a Green Beret, Retired Master Sergeant Chris Spence, to discuss America’s immediate response to 9/11.

Gordie detailed how his brother and the other passengers and crew of United 93 battled against the terrorists, losing their lives, but most likely saving the US Capitol. These civilians struck the first organized blow against Al-Qaeda.

A few short weeks later, Chris and his fellow 5th Special Forces Soldiers were in Afghanistan, in the first military response of the war, fighting on horse back with Northern Alliance allies against AQ and Taliban forces. The photos Chris took of these Cavalry Operations, the first since WW2, were provided to the world by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. These photos illustrated an operation that bolstered the spirits of a wounded nation, and served as the inspiration for the book “Horse Soldiers” and the movie “Twelve Strong.”

Special thanks to Dr Steve Napoli, Director of the Troy Leadership Institute (and Ret CW5 Apache Pilot) for his support of 9:57 Programming.

09/18/2026

9/11 REMEMBERED: SALUTING 25 YEARS OF COURAGE

John Hamilton

September 1, 2026
Reprinted with permission from The Tribune Democrat of Johnstown, PA

Everyone who remembers 9/11 has a story. For the thousands who lost a loved one, that day is the indelible chasm of “before and after.” For others, the effects came later. For millions of veterans like me, the clock started that morning to events that would intertwine our lives with Afghanistan or Iraq, or both.

An estimated 1.9 million veterans – possibly many more; the statistics aren’t clear – deployed in the “Global War on Terror.” In exchange for the service I readily extended to my country, I lost people, time and – for a brief moment – awareness of how it all began.

In all, more than 7,000 Americans died in the war, and 53,000 were injured. Thousands of first-responder heroes from Ground Zero suffer health effects.

In the days leading up to the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I was discouraged. We were still in Afghanistan and Iraq. Why?

We’d found Bin Laden and protected our homeland, but those days of 9/12 unity seemed so far away, as if enmity for our fellow citizens was becoming our only unifying characteristic.

Then I encountered the front page of The Washington Post on Sept. 8, 2011, an article about the Ground Zero cross. I was only vaguely aware of the two steel beams bonded perpendicularly, discovered in a cathedral-like alcove in the rubble of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 12, 2001.

The article stirred something in my heart. I had been dreading the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11. In the midst of that article, I did an about-face. I instantly committed to going to a 9/11 site. Ground Zero was out of the question. So was the Pentagon, as I didn’t have a ticket. I would go to Shanksville, if only because there would be space for me there. That Sunday morning, I was one of 10,000 people who showed up to render honor to the 40 heroes of Flight 93.

I am astonished by what they did. Thanks to information and time, they were able to act. Their plane took off later than the other ones; during phone calls to the ground, passengers determined their fate was entangled in a much larger plot.

Once informed, these extraordinary people voted, prayed, steeled themselves for battle ... and at 9:57 a.m. struck back, in the first organized counter-attack in the war I would come to know as my own.

A couple of years later, my pal Peter Findler, a Washington, D.C.-area high school educator, invited me to speak with his students about my experiences in “the service.” It just so happened to be the day Pete was teaching about 9/11. His students were compiling oral histories about the attacks.

Pete asked if I would participate. I readily agreed, and found that, even in 2013, students were already believing troubling things about 9/11. These were powerful exchanges – so much so, Pete and I knew we had to replicate this veteran/student engagement on a wider scale.

We began an unlikely journey that continues today – a partnership between an educator and a veteran that became a nonprofit, The 9:57 Project.

We have taken more than 1,000 young people and scores of veterans to Flight 93 National Memorial, as well as conducted many other leadership activities about 9/11 resilience, unity and teamwork.

In doing this work, we’ve made some amazing friends – the great public servants at Flight 93 National Memorial, numerous other like-minded organizations, and four families who had loved ones on the plane. Our highest honor is the trust they place in us to tell the Flight 93 story.

I’ve also learned this nation is still united in countless unseen ways. It’s just drowned out by relentless online chaos. In the quiet realms of real life, if you take time and get involved, you’ll find many are still up to doing good.

We’ve discovered that the citizens of Shanksville and Somerset County perform their caretaker role of this final resting place with solemn dedication. They represent the best in America. I like to think many other towns would make us just as proud as they have.

A few years into this, my pal Pete pointed out that we’re not just an educational outfit, but also a veterans nonprofit. The 9:57 Project offers veterans a perspective shift, remembering how the war began.

Our military wasn’t in a position to protect our Capitol on 9/11. Flight 93 civilians were, a reminder that courage dwells not just in our service members, but potentially all of us. Such a realization makes connection and healing possible.

I am eternally thankful for the citizen-soldiers of Flight 93, who in attempting to get home, won the first victory in my war. We owe it to them to keep faith in each other and to always do our best for our families, friends and country.

09/13/2026

957 Project Family Ambassador Gordon Felt talking about heroism, the hard things of history and making sure our youth know about 9/11. This was a somber week honoring the 25th anniversary of a day of tragedy. The heroic actions of those on Flight 93 inspire courage in this and future generations.

08/21/2026

Thank you, Fairfax County Public Schools for welcoming us as presenters for Social Studies teachers this week! We loved having the chance to connect with groups of teachers to share the inspirational story of Flight 93 and how educators can partner with Veterans to bring authentic leadership opportunities into classrooms. We look forward to future collaboration in service of your students.

Shout out to 9:57 Project ambassador Rogers Stinson Jr. for leading these sessions!

08/15/2026

Our most recent newsletter:

2026. Looking Back and Looking Ahead

It’s been a while since we’ve published a newsletter, but fear not, we’ve been conducting more activities than ever at The 9:57 Project. Kenny Nacke, brother of Flight 93 Passenger Louis Nacke II, recently told us: “No grass grows under your feet.” It’s true. In the lead up to the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we’ve continued our past endeavors and embarked on exciting new ones.

Last month we conducted our 4th annual Summer Leadership Challenge, in conjunction with Serve our Willing Warriors of Haymarket, Virginia, at their beautiful retreat for America’s Veterans west of Washington, DC. For five days, Students were immersed in leadership studies, concentrating on our CREST principles (courage, resilience, empowerment, service, and teamwork). Veteran volunteers, along with Deborah Borza, mother of Flight 93 passenger Deora Bodley, spent several days with our young leaders, mentoring them in the planning of their service projects and then leading them in a visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial. Debby and other family members were instrumental in the development of this place of honor. We were again joined by Debby’s partner Greg Linden and his pals Dr. Raymond Crowell and William Ball of Tomiki Aikido of the Americas. Greg, Ray, and Will introduced our students to the concepts available in Aikido: peaceful resolution of conflict, self defense, and the composure of leadership.

July also saw us enter into an exciting new engagement opportunity with Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Thanks to the community outreach of 9:57 Veteran Ambassador Rogers Stinson Jr., conditions were set within the district for Veteran visits to multiple high schools for the summer session. Roge executed these visits, honing an engagement model that has been perfected over a number of years - confronting students with captivating testimony of how this country responded inspirationally to 9/11, using not only video media from the era, but Roge’s own perspectives and combat experiences. We are hopeful this is only the beginning of sharing the Flight 93 Story with more future citizens in similar programming.

Earlier in the year we conducted another student leadership trip to Pittsburgh and the Flight 93 Memorial with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF). Two years ago, West Virginia educator Todd Goblinger reached out to The 9:57 Project via our website for a Veteran visit; a conversation ensued which eventually led to this wonderful trip. Since 2023, the Gary Sinise Foundation and The 9:57 team have introduced hundreds of students to the Flight 93 story in this manner. The journey is augmented by leadership discussions with Flight 93 families, 9:57 Veteran Volunteers, and GSF Ambassadors such as Doc Jacobs and Danny Prince. Two new 9:57 Veterans joined the team on this trip, Tim Ledman of Franklin, Tennessee, and Blake Waller of Fairhope, Alabama. Blake knew Flight 93 First Officer Leroy Homer from their time at the Air Force Academy. We are so grateful for all the supporters of the Gary Sinise Foundation; the good they do is so expansive and impactful - houses for wounded Veterans, support of Veterans and first responders in ways large and small, and support for our mission. And we have two more trips scheduled this year!

In June, we were invited to the Trojan Patriot Academy at Troy University in Troy, Alabama to talk about Flight 93. Over one hundred high school students participated in this unique summer leadership experience. We were honored to spend time with Dr. Jeff Scott and his team from Experiencing America, Troy University, and the American Village in this dynamic encounter with our future leaders. It was an exciting time to be on campus as Troy University’s baseball team was competing in the College World Series. Gordie Felt, brother of Flight 93 Passenger Ed Felt, and one time President of the Families of Flight 93, presented a talk on “The Battle of Flight 93,” when the forty heroes defended our Capital City on 9/11, and the relevant legacy and inspiration of their actions today. 9:57 Project co-founder John Hamilton introduced Gordie and established the historic continuum of the actions of Flight 93 to the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq.

After our event at Troy, Gordie and John ventured down the road to Fort Rucker, Alabama, home of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Gordie and John gave the “Battle of Flight 93” presentation to the next generation of U.S. Army Aviators. The military services are constantly conducting professional development events as part of a never-ending commitment to excellence in the profession of arms. These events can be as elaborate as a terrain walk at Gettysburg or Normandy, or basic as weekly Sergeant’s time training for Soldiers concentrating on tactical tasks. We were honored and proud to familiarize several hundred flight school students on the significance of the actions on board Flight 93. Afterwards, Fort Rucker Chief of Staff Clint Cody provided perspective to these officers: “Be ready,” telling them how he was in flight school when 9/11 happened and in combat months later. We are thankful to Colonel Cody and his Commanding General, Major General Clair Gill, on the opportunity to spend time with these officers and Soldiers. More about The 9:57 Project at Fort Rucker.

In September, we are conducting an event with undergraduates at the Leadership Institute at Troy University in recognition of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, a “Battle for Flight 93” talk tentatively planned for an audience of over 1,000 students, our largest one-time engagement yet. The American Village at Montevallo, Alabama has an invitation to us for their teacher’s workshop in the coming weeks. We are very encouraged by the appetite and appreciation for the Flight 93 Story not only in high schools, but in Universities, and within military organizations. The inspiration of the forty Flight 93 heroes and the CREST principles is applicable to any organization or individual.

Next month, the country will wake up to the 25th 9/11 since 2001, in this 250th year of our nationhood. Reflect on what WW2 Veteran and future President John F. Kennedy said in Mineola, New York on May 18, 1947, during a speech titled “Why I am an American,” as it relates to these memory milestones…

Let those of us then gathered here today reaffirm our faith in American liberty by pledging ourselves to a more studied and conscientious awareness of government and the men who govern us. Pray God let the words of Rousseau, who said, “As soon as a man says of the affairs of state 'What does it matter to me?' the state may be given up as lost" never apply to us, to America, and to American liberty.”

The 9:57 Project doesn’t exist to study the men who govern us, but to study the heroic men and women who saved our seat of government on a clear blue Tuesday morning. Our hope is that this study adds strength to American liberty and its next 250 years. It’s the least we can do in gratitude for what the heroes of Flight 93 did.

Following the presentation of “The Battle for Flight 93” to future Army Aviators at Fort Rucker in June.

From left to right, Colonel Clint Cody, Army Aviation Center of Excellence Chief of Staff; Gordie Felt, brother of Flight 93 passenger Ed Felt, and former President of Families of Flight 93; John Hamilton, CW4 (Ret), co-founder of The 9:57 Project; and Department of the Army Civilian Marcus Hazel, CW4 (Ret), currently an AH-64 Apache Instructor Pilot. Clint, John, and Marcus all served together in the 3-101 Aviation Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in the months after 9/11.

07/11/2026

The 2026 Summer Leadership Challenge is in the books! From Veteran-led leadership workshops to service projects on the grounds of the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run to a visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial, it was a week full of leadership learning and inspirational 9/11 history. Shout outs go to the amazing team at Serve Our Willing Warriors - SOWW for hosting us once again, the unforgettable Aikido workshop from Tomiki Aikido of the Americas and to the good people at the National Park Service for welcoming us to Shanksville. And above all thank you to our students who were fantastic participants. The future is bright!

06/15/2026

Thank you Sarah and SOWW for getting the word out!

06/15/2026

The 9:57 Project participated in two outstanding leadership events in Alabama last week, the Troy University Patriot Academy, and a town hall for Army Flight School students at Fort Rucker.

We’re thankful for these opportunities to talk about the resilience and Spirit of this great nation in the wake of 9/11, specifically how the heroes of United 93 took a stand, demonstrating a courage we must remember all the days of this Republic.

We’ll publish photos from Troy soon. We’re thankful to Fort Rucker Chief of Staff Colonel Clint Cody and 1/145 Aviation Commander Lt Colonel Mathew Stockton for the opportunity to address these future Army Aviators.

And a special thank you goes to Gordie Felt, brother of Flight 93 Passenger Ed Felt, for journeying to Alabama for these leadership activities.

02/23/2026

It may be cold outside, but we are gearing up for summer! Applications for the 2026 Summer Leadership Challenge are open, and we have a great opportunity for high school students who want a deep dive into leadership and 9/11 history led by the families of Flight 93 and our nation's Veterans.



Serve Our Willing Warriors - SOWW

We are mobilizing Veterans to inspire the next generation.

01/31/2026

The 9:57 Project connects Eduators and Veterans to perpetuate a legacy of leadership and the Flight 93 story. Connect with us to learn more!

Inspired by the story of Flight 93 and powered by the unique leadership talents of our nation's military, we offer immersive experiential learning trips, after-school programs that preserve Veteran stories for the Library of Congress, and transformative summer leadership challenges. Join us in the mission to help to ensure that the legacy of American service and the spirit of Flight 93 continue to inspire civic duty in the next generation.