Stoystown man’s 9/11 photo on display in NYC

BY DEANN CARDARELLA
FOR THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

STOYSTOWN October 06, 2007 11:55 pm

— Most hobbies go quietly under the radar, unnoticed. A few years back, amateur photographer David Escherich of Stoystown snapped a photo that went global within hours.
Today, his photograph is part of a New York City exhibit that will run through 2010.
In September, Escherich and a few friends boarded a bus and traveled to see his photo on display at the Tribute World Trade Center 9/11 Visitor Center at ground zero.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Escherich snapped the picture of downed Flight 93 and captured international attention following the click of his 35-mm camera’s shutter.
“I was going through Friedens when I saw a huge plume of smoke, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” Escherich said.
It wasn’t long before an announcer on the Meyersdale radio station broke in to report a downed plane in Somerset County. Escherich continued on with his day and stopped at the Stoystown post office. He was aware of the devastation at the World Trade Center.
At the Stoystown post office, a friend encouraged him to investigate what had happened. With his camera in his car, Escherich decided he would.
Not long after the crash, Escherich was on the scene. Emergency personnel were only just arriving. Undetected, he grabbed his camera and set up his tripod and fired off 10 shots before being asked to leave.
“I was about 150 yards away from where the plane hit,” he said. “But then I did as they said. I packed up and left.”
Escherich knew the images he just captured were important, so he immediately had them processed.
Within 90 minutes of the crash, he shared his historic photo with a local newspaper and it was printed the next day. The following day, The Associated Press sent the Shanksville photo around the world. It is believed that Escherich captured the first images of the crash site.
“It’s been a hobby for me for over 20 years, ever since I was forced to retire from Bethlehem Steel,” he said. “I always have my camera with me.”
Ironically, his photo might not be as well known in Greater Johnstown as two others.
Tribune-Democrat photographer Dave Lloyd’s photo of emergency workers spraying down the crash site and picking through rubble ran in The Tribune-Democrat and other publications, including The New York Times.
And Somerset County resident Val McClatchey snapped a plume of smoke rising in the distance over a bright red barn, which has become an iconic photo – at least locally.
But back to NYC.
About two years ago, a friend of Escherich submitted one of the photos for consideration at the exhibit marking that day.
Escherich’s photo was one of four that were developed into a mural-size print and featured in the exhibit, which is open to the public.
Wendy Aibel-Weiss is the director of exhibits and education for the Tribute World Trade Center 9/11 Visitor Center.
She said this photo is part of a bigger exhibit that takes visitors on an emotional journey through the events of Sept. 11.
Aibel-Weiss said the Shanksville details in the museum represent a positive story – though still a tragedy. It tells the story of Americans standing up in the face of danger and taking charge.
The photo represents heroism on both sides – the efforts of the passengers as well as the emergency personnel who responded, she said.
“We have quotes from firefighters and rescue personnel who said their job was to go in and save people,” Aibel-Weiss said. “For the first time in their careers, many of them did not have the ability to save anyone. This photo reinforces that. It represents the extreme – no one could help.”
Escherich has mixed feelings about his accomplishment with the photo.
The image is of a very somber time in the history of the United States. For that reason, it is hard to be elated over the recognition.
“It gives me a good feeling my photo was chosen. But I’m not overwhelmed,” he said.
The photo enthusiast never has received a dime for the photo. And in many cases, it has even cost him with the multiple printings he has done over time.
Escherich recalled his sense of disbelief when he arrived at the scene of the downed aircraft.
“There wasn’t a trace of an airplane,” he said. “There was only a crater where it made impact. I’m not a real emotional person, but I am saddened by the whole thing.”

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