Plant City Observer

Parents of 9/11 victim to receive biker escort

A plethora of rumbling engines. A father’s tears. An escort to top them all.

On Feb. 27, a pack of motorcycles will accompany Jerry and Karen Bingham to the Tampa International Airport, where they will take off to Somerset County, in Pennsylvania, the site of the United Airlines Flight 93 9/11 crash.

What is now a peaceful green field was once the location of a horrific act of terrorism. But the story that survives is the one of the heroes that went down with it.

One of those heroes is Jerry Bingham’s only son, Mark Bingham. The couple will travel to Pennsylvania for the commissioning of the USS Somerset, a U.S. Navy Transport Ship. The ship will honor the 40 passengers and crew of the downed airliner. It will be commissioned at Penn’s Landing March 1, in Philadelphia.

“He enjoyed life and he enjoyed people,” Jerry said of his son. “He was fun. He was just a fun personality.”

Over the years, the Binghams have attended many memorial services, speaking events and rallies for those lost in 9/11. Their house is adorned with patriotic décor. A flag is pinned in the garage. A bumper sticker reads, “In Memory Mark Bingham.”

Inside, more art is hanging on the walls. Most of it has come from random strangers, who have heard Mark’s story. To this day, mail still arrives, some from school children who weren’t yet born when one of the nation’s greatest tragedies slammed into the hearts of Americans.

“I think our goal in life is to never let people forget,” Karen said.

One thing is for certain: The Binghams will never forget Mark.

THAT TERRIBLE DAY

Mark Bingham had lived his life on airplanes. His mother was a flight attendant, and he had traveled the world using buddy passes. From outback excursions in Australia to running with the bulls in Spain, Bingham’s lust for adventure took him to all corners of the globe.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Mark’s life ended doing the very thing he loved.

The 31-year-old was a successful entrepreneur, who had started his own public-relations firm, after graduating from the University of California-Berkeley. With an office in San Francisco, Mark was in New York to launch his second location.

Always the hard worker, Mark missed his initial flight back to San Francisco. He was supposed to go back for a friend’s wedding. Not wanting to miss it, he booked another flight — Flight 93.

There was nothing significant about that flight while he was running to the gate, late as usual. But that flight number would be forever known in a matter of hours. The flight ascended, with Mark inside.

Meanwhile, Jerry was watching the “Twin Tours,” in New York City. A black tornado of billowing smoke reached up to the sky.

“By the time the second plane hit, you knew it was an attack,” Jerry said.

He desperately called Mark to make sure he was OK. Karen also called from work. For hours, they didn’t hear anything. Then, they called Mark’s uncle in California. He told him the news: Mark went down with Flight 93 in Somerset County. The passengers had fought back against hijackers. If they couldn’t save themselves, then they were going to stop the plane from being steered toward more innocent people.

Jerry collapsed onto the floor. Karen grabbed the phone.

“Our lives changed that second,” Karen said. “Everything stopped. I still remember exactly where we were, exactly what we were doing.”

“If they would have had a little more time, they could’ve taken over the plane,” Jerry said. “It made me sick listening to the recordings. At least they tried. At least they were heroes.”

THE RIDE

The Binghams raised Mark and Karen’s two daughters, Heather and Michelle, in Florida. After the crash, the Binghams moved to Tennessee to retire. A big part of the move was to be closer to Pennsylvania.

“We wanted to make sure (the memorial) got built,” Jerry said. “There were so many things that needed to be done by the families.”

The couple stayed in Pennsylvania two to three weeks at a time in their motor coach full of dogs.

Mark’s life also has  impacted their granddaughter, Katelyn. Every Sept. 11, she can’t stop talking about her uncle — whom the 9-year-old cheerleader has never met.

The Binghams can’t stop talking about Mark, either. They’ve traveled around the country doing speaking engagements to make sure the nation knows what Flight 93 was about. And people love to listen.

Many have reached out to connect with Karen on Facebook. That’s how she met Rick Sarmiento. Sarmiento was involved with the Florida 2 million Bikers to DC ride last year. Karen liked the page for its patriotic agenda. Soon, the two were talking. She asked if anyone in Plant City was making the ride to Washington. The owner of Plant CIty Automotive, Tony Mendolia, was, and the Binghams gave him a Flight 93 flag to represent them on the ride.

This year, Sarmiento and his group are honoring the Binghams and Mark’s memory once again.

“That ride to D.C. and New York changed my life,” Sarmiento said. “Something clicked. This is it. I want to be a philanthropist, an activist and give back.”

He planned the escort without Karen’s knowledge initially. But, there can’t be secrets for long on Facebook.

Karen saw the event.

“We’ve never been escorted,” Karen said. “Maybe by news crews. I’m just honored they want to do that.”

The ride will start at Plant City Automotive. Everyone is encouraged to attend to send them off, not just bikers. From there, the Binghams will be escorted in an SUV provided by Stingray Chevrolet, with bikers leading the way.

“We have found that bikers are more patriotic about America,” Karen said. “They feel it. Some see them as scruffy, old bikers. But, they are the best people.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

MARK BINGHAM FAMILY ESCORT

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Feb. 27

WHERE: Plant City Automotive, 2303 James L. Redman Parkway, Suite L

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/events/617276061661726/ or facebook.com/groups/172881946229353/

DETAILS: The Binghams lost a son on Flight 93 on 9/11. Rick Sarmiento has organized a biker escort to take the couple to the airport for the commissioning of the USS Somerset in honor of those victims. The ride will start at Plant City Automotive. Everyone is encouraged to attend to send them off, not just bikers. From there, the Binghams will be escorted in an SUV provided by Stingray Chevrolet, with bikers leading the way.

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