Couple honor Shanksville ‘angels’ with documentary and garden

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

Tony and Kitch Mussari believe the victims of Flight 93 are often overlooked.

Mussari, 69, of Dallas, and his wife, the former Kitch Loftus, 62, have transformed much of their property on Windsor Drive in Dallas into “Windsor Park” – a walking trail of greenery, ponds, benches and tributes. One of the tributes is to the memory of the 40 passengers of Flight 93.

(Kitch and Tony Mussari of Dallas in their Angel Garden, a memorial to Flight 93 victims of Sept 11. Picture by Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader)

Called “The Angel Garden,” it contains markers and names of all the passengers and crew members, a Flight 93 flag and a rock for every life lost at all sites on 9/11. It’s a labor of love and deep respect for the victims, their families and friends.

A weather vane near the top of the garden points due west towards Shanksville.

“Shanksville is always somewhat forgotten in the discussions of 9/11,” Mussari said. “The 40 people on that airplane prevented it from hitting the Capitol when both houses of Congress were in session. Their act of courage and heroism ranks among the highest and purest forms of heroism and courage in our history.”

Mussari leaned back and tried to put himself on the hijacked plane.

“Think about it. You know this plane is destined to crash and you are traveling in the last part of this journey,” he said. “You’re going about 565 miles per hour and you’re at the level where cell towers pick up cell phone calls and you have the kind of courage and determination to try to take over control of the aircraft.”

The Mussaris have dedicated much of the last 10 years to remembering Shanksville and the victims of Flight 93. Each year they produce an anniversary video about the crash and this year, the 10th, will be their final edition. They have completed 22 documentary films on Shanksville and Flight 93.

“We will still visit the site; it’s only four hours away,” Mussari said. “We have many friends there. As much as we don’t want to let it go, there comes a time that you must.”

Over the past decade, the Mussaris have taken many groups to the site – more than 500 students and adults in all.

“Once you’ve been there and you meet the people who are trying to keep the memories of those 40 victims alive, you feel much closer to them and the tragedy of Flight 93,” Kitch said. “You soon realize that 9/11 is much more than ground zero.”

That’s not to disparage anyone, the Mussaris quickly note. They honor and respect every victim of 9/11 and their families. But they feel too often Shanksville is not held in the same regard as the other events of 9/11.

Tony Mussari said when he first visited the site of the crash – and on every other occasion he and Kitch have been there – the experience is the same. People coming to see where the plane carrying the “40 angels of freedom” came down. Tony Mussari said the experience is so compelling, nearly every visitor wants to leave some part of themselves behind to pay tribute to the victims.

“In driving rainstorms, the people came,” he said. “In winter when the ground was covered with 6 inches of snow and in blistering heat, people came and left things. There is this connection with these brave Americans whose names nobody knew, but did what Americans do in their finest hour.

“We must never permit ourselves to forget not only the act of courage, but the values of the people who were both on the plane and the people of Shanksville,” he said.

Around the path from the Angel Garden is the Garden of Life. Here are rocks with words like “imagine, dream, belief and 125 more that speak to life.” A 37-year-old Chinese Dawn Maple Tree stands nearby. A bench underneath awaits visitors. Neighbors stop by with their children and grandchildren to watch the fish in the ponds and learn about life and history, including the events of 9/11.

“The selfless, heroic acts of those 40 people, put themselves in harm’s way to avoid a tragedy of even larger proportion,” Mussari said.

“They made their last moments the most meaningful of service that makes us all proud to be Americans.”

The first time he visited the site, Tony Mussari said he just stood there and looked at the large space where the plane crashed.

“Something happened,” he said. “I thought, ‘What would you do if you were on that plane?’ That thought, that feeling was overwhelming.”

Reprinted with permission from The Times Leader

www.timesleader.com

In Focus: We still have much to learn from Judge Max Rosenn

Written by Bill O’Boyle, The Times Leader
boboyle@civitasmedia.com
Photography, Aimee Dilger, The Times Leader

March 29. 2015 5:30PM – 1004 Views

WILKES-BARRE — Every chance I get I still watch reruns of “Leave It To Beaver.” There’s nothing like those life lessons learned from the Cleaver family of Mayfield.

I have always proposed that every family be court-ordered to watch “Beaver” with their children. They will learn manners, respect, honesty, integrity, fairness, humility and loyalty. These values are essential to being a good human being — one who is less likely to build a meth lab in the back yard and more likely to finish school, get a job, raise a family and contribute positively to society.

“Leave It To Beaver,” I surmise, is a show that the late Judge Max Rosenn also enjoyed. If he didn’t, then he sure served as an adviser to the show’s producers.

Rosenn died in 2006 at the age of 96.

I attended last week’s lecture at Wilkes University given by my friend, Tony Mussari, a former King’s College professor and a noted filmmaker. Mussari and his wife, Kitch Loftus, have produced some of the finest documentaries that not only inform, but challenge you to be a better person.

Like Judge Rosenn.

The lecture was part of the Drs. Robert S. and Judith A. Gardner Educational Forum Series and featured the Mussari-produced documentary “Judge Max Rosenn: A Man for All Seasons.” Mussari directed the discussion about honor, service and community leadership — the values lived by Judge Rosenn.

I have to admit, it was enjoyable, yet somewhat melancholy to sit and watch Judge Rosenn being interviewed. Mussari said Rosenn was about 94 when the interview was filmed, about two years before his death. Judge Rosenn was sharp as ever, articulating as only he could about living a good life.

I was fortunate to have many conversations with Judge Rosenn over the years. I know I benefited from all of them, learning something new and thought-provoking every time.

Judge Rosenn once said too many elected officials are more concerned about retaining their offices than serving their constituents.

He also said “the God of money” has taken over our world, especially our political process.

When asked how you mold a person of high moral character and integrity, Judge Rosenn said it all starts at home. He said those formative years, up until 12 or so, are critical in the formation of a person. He said schools and churches are also key in the continuance of the evolution of a genuine, caring human being.

This could explain the importance of “Leave It To Beaver” in my life and the lives of so many others.

Judge Rosenn talked about respect for fellow human beings. He spoke of morality. As someone said, “Judge Rosenn was a good man who lived a good life.”
That’s about as good as it gets.

Judge Rosenn said the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. were carried out by people “devoid of humaneness; devoid of compassion.” How else can you explain their intent to take so many innocent lives?

The eloquence of Judge Rosenn’s words never lessened as the years went by. He always managed to put things in perfect perspective.

Mussari said he worries about the future for his grandchildren. He told the Wilkes students he worries for the lives they will have in this ever-changing, deteriorating world society. He points to Judge Rosenn for guidance.

“The example of Judge Rosenn has to live on,” Mussari said. “His words have to be put back on the minds of young people.”

Mussari said there is a growing conflict between moral character and performance character. He said the values Judge Rosenn possessed must be instilled in all of us or the world will only get worse.

Mussari said Rosenn was “A Man for All Seasons.”

Rosenn once said: “Your value lies not in your status or your title; but in the roots of your character and the depth of your compassion.”

Long live Judge Max Rosenn.

Wilkes students view documentary film on Gettysburg
The Times Leader

October 02. 2014 6:26PM – 1913 Views

By Bill O’Boyle boboyle@civitasmedia.com

Photograph by Fred Adams

WILKES-BARRE — Honor and valor, along with character, courage, humility and integrity were words discussed and their definitions displayed at length Wednesday during a two-hour presentation at Wilkes University.

Dr. Tony Mussari Sr., retired King’s College professor, spoke to a group of Wilkes education students about his latest film — “Four Days of Honor and Valor in Gettysburg.” His presentation was part of the Drs. Robert S. and Judith A. Gardner Educational Forum Series that features speakers from the educational and business community.

When the film ended and Mussari stopped speaking, the students came away impressed, challenged and determined to follow the examples depicted in the film.

The documentary was filmed during the 150th Medal of Honor Convention, held in September 2013, in Gettysburg. Six Junior ROTC students from North Plainfield (N.J.) High School are featured: Adriana Miranda, senior; Elijah Sheridan, junior; Jared Ruiz, junior; Ruel Lindsay, junior; Kyle Pacla, junior; and Nancy Bahnasy, sophomore.

The students got to meet and talk to several recipients of the Medal of Honor and they heard the selflessness of each story and the attitude of “we did what we had to do” that echoed through the four days.

And the echoes reverberated at Wilkes, where the students gained a perspective on how important it is to live one’s life in an honorable and ethical way.

Mussari began with a thought for the day from George Washington, the father of our country, who said: “Labor to keep alive in your breast, that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.”

The New Jersey School Boards Association has supported publication and distribution of a teaching guide of Mussari’s documentary that will be used in all New Jersey public high schools.

“I’m worried about your generation,” Mussari said. “I’m not afraid for your future, but I am concerned.”

Medal of Honor

So Mussari embarked on this journey, with his wife, Kitch Loftus Mussari, to film another documentary to add to their list of completed projects, like those on the Agnes Flood of 1972, the Centralia Fire in 1982 and the Windsor Park series.

This project was 15 months in the making and included 21 trips to Gettysburg, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

As the students watched the documentary, they learned there are 3,462 Medal of Honor recipients, all but one are men; 63 of them fought at Gettysburg and 1,522 fought in the Civil War. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

As Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Barney Barnum said, “I’m not a hero. I’m just Barney Barnum,” the students pondered the question often asked: “What motivated them to do what they did?”

There were plenty of reasons offered, but the overriding response was: “We did what we had to do.”

The students learned the hardest thing to do is doing the right thing, but most of the Medal of Honor recipients in the documentary agreed that when faced with a dangerous situation, a moment arrives when all just reacted and they did what had to be done.

As Sal Giunta, the youngest recipient who served in Afghanistan, said, “Right will always be right.”

Mussari said the lessons learned in Gettysburg need to be learned throughout the U.S. He said one-third of children are born into single-parent families. He said numbers are always increasing of grandparents raising their grandchildren.

“These are challenging times,” Mussari said. “These trends need to change.”

The Wilkes students said the documentary opened their eyes and they came away impressed by how each recipient disregarded their own safety to do what was necessary for the good of their comrades, their communities and their country.

(The Medal of Honor statistics in the documentary reflect the number of recipients as of September 2013)

Four Days of Honor and Valor in Gettysburg

Documentary Review
Mike Lewis

Wow.

What an amazing effort by Tony and Kitch Mussari.

I wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact of this documentary.

High School ROTC cadets meet and spend time with a few of the men who received the nation’s highest military honor. It all happens during the 2013 Medal of Honor Convention in one of the most significant cities in American history. Gettysburg!

An amazing backdrop that takes viewers on a wonderfully hopeful, educational and insightful journey that leaves you wanting more!

Wait until you see how Medal of Honor recipients relay what they’ve learned to the young cadets and how it impacts these potential future leaders.

I was struck by the character traits shared by the Medal of Honor recipients in this program and how each trait could or should be applied to my daily civilian life!

I think after you see it, you’ll share my view on this documentary.

You will walk away with new hope for a nation and a renewed hope for your own life!
I sure did.

The on screen look of this documentary is perfect.

The editing is wonderfully paced and includes hundreds of graphics that re-enforce what’s being said on screen.

Clearly, the writer, photographer and producers of this documentary have invested thousands of hours of work in this project.

Yet, there’s nothing slick here.

Just thoughtful, insightful work, with a potential life-changing message for young and old alike.

The best yet, from Tony and Kitch Mussari.

Walking into the Light at Gettysburg

Documentary film on Civil War inspires today’s youth

By William C. Kashatus
Correspondent

Americans are celebrating this year’s 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in a variety of ways, but one of the most unique commemorations has come in the form of a documentary film titled “Walking into the Light at Gettysburg.”

Produced by filmmaker Anthony Mussari, emeritus professor at King’s College and his wife, Kitch Loftus, a retired journalist, the film records the experience of ten students from North Plainfield High school in New Jersey during a three-day visit to the battlefield in April 2012.

Mussari and Loftus, residents of Dallas who wrote and produced the uplifting television series “Windsor Park Stories” from 1998 to 2009, created an open-air classroom that integrated living history, experiential learning and character education in a creative way. In the process, the students gained a deeper understanding of the epic battle but also its relevance and meaning to their own lives.

That meaning can be found in the enduring words of President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Although they were on opposite sides in the fratricidal conflict, their views on war and the responsibility of citizenship are just as relevant today as they were 150 years ago.

“It is well to know that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.”- Robert E. Lee

The Battle of Gettysburg, which took place between July 1 and 3, 1863, marked a turning point in the Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee had recently rallied his troops to a decisive victory at Chancellorsville, Virginia. But the need to gain supplies and the possibility of striking a final blow against the Union persuaded him to launch an invasion of the North.

In early June, Lee began maneuvering his army for the assault. After a hard-earned victory at Winchester, Virginia, the Confederates advanced across Maryland and into central Pennsylvania.

Frustrated by General Joseph Hooker’s timidity in halting the invasion, Lincoln replaced him with General George G. Meade, a Pennsylvanian, to lead the Army of the Potomac. Four days later, on July 1, Meade met Lee almost by accident at Gettysburg.

During the next three days, more than 163,000 men waged a vicious and costly fight. Lee attacked repeatedly, but failed to dislodge the Union from their position, which extended along a four-mile front.

“My heart bleeds at the death of every one of our gallant men.” -Robert E. Lee

The climax of the battle came on the afternoon of July 3 when Confederate General George E. Pickett led a heroic but fruitless charge against the center of the Union lines, losing 7,000 of his 15,000 men.

Meade’s victory ended the most threatening Confederate invasion of the North, giving the Union an undisputed victory. The psychological impact of the battle was great for both armies.

If Lee had won, he might have been emboldened to launch another invasion, this time on Washington or Philadelphia. Such an attack would have rejuvenated the confederacy, possibly bringing foreign support.

Instead, Gettysburg became the “high tide” of the Confederacy. Lee’s army never fully recovered from the defeat. Of the 75,000 men who marched into battle, the Confederates lost 28,063; losses that not only inflicted a severe blow to southern morale, but would also prove to be irreplaceable.

On the other hand, the Union victory boosted Northern morale, proving that the Federal army could defeat the Confederacy if it had effective military leadership. But the victory came at a severe cost. Of the 82,289 men who fought for the Union at Gettysburg, 23,049 lost their lives.

“The struggle for today is not altogether for today – it is also for the vast future.” -Abraham Lincoln

Tony Mussari first visited the Gettysburg battlefield at age 15 with his older brother, Ken, a teacher who he idolized. Mussari’s inspiration for the film was, in part, to pay tribute to his brother who died too early in life. He also views Gettysburg as the ideal setting for high school students to learn “about the values that speak to the greatness of our country, values like courage, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, leadership, reconciliation, and redemption.”

"To learn about this place is a lifetime pursuit," he added. That Mussari and Loftus chose to share the pursuit with students from the New Jersey high school was only natural.

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the couple set out to record all that is good about our country with their documentary series, "The Face of America." While on their travels they stopped at a Flight 93 memorial service in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. There they met a group of North Plainfield High School cheerleaders who made a habit of visiting the site each year. They endeared themselves to Tony and Kitch, who were welcomed into the high school with open arms.

"We’ve become the adopted son and daughter of North Plainfield," Tony said. "They have given an old teacher a new classroom."

Like all good teachers, Mussari and Loftus sweated the details of their latest project. They spent countless hours researching the Civil War and Gettysburg’s pivotal role in it, planning the trip, finding images in the Library of Congress and producing the film.

At North Plainfield, teachers prepared the students by incorporating the Battle of Gettysburg into their lesson plans. The music teachers taught the students songs from the Civil War and the woodworking teacher allowed students to replicate artifacts from the 1800s.

Later, in Gettysburg, the students were treated to a tour of the battlefield with a licensed battlefield guide, living history presentations by actors portraying Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee, and an extended visit to the recently-built museum, which includes a breathtaking panoramic painting of the battle. Throughout the trip, Mussari recorded the experience as well as student reactions in an unobtrusive way.

One of the biggest challenges in producing the documentary was integrating the mass of statistical data on the battle with historic images and the views of the major political and military leaders. To that end, quotes from President Abraham Lincoln and General Lee frequently appear throughout the film, as do contemporary photographs, paintings and living history re-enactments, all of which are set to music from the Civil War era.

“Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling.” – Abraham Lincoln

The genius of the film, however, is its ability to capture the profound insights of the ten high school students as their experience unfolded at Gettysburg.

“It was my job to ask the right questions,” Tony explained. “Not leading questions, but evocative ones. I had no idea what the responses would be.”

But Mussari also wanted to create an experience that would allow students to grow, both intellectually and personally. Considering the responses of his students, the experience succeeded beyond all expectations.

“This experience really brought me up,” admitted Enrie Simms, an African American senior. “Because if you think you fail or you think you prosper, it’s only in vain if you don’t change, if you don’t become a better person.”

For Mark Havrilla, the experience reinforced his decision to go into the military. He called it the same “sense of duty to country” that inspired the men who fought at Gettysburg.

Craig Lewis was less certain of how Gettysburg would impact his future, but every bit as appreciative. Lewis, who immigrated to this country from Jamaica and now attends Rutgers University, gave Mussari perhaps the greatest compliment that any student can give to a teacher. “Sir,” he said at the end of the three-day trip, “I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

“Walking into the Light at Gettysburg” premiered in Lenfest Theater at Gettysburg National Battlefield before an enthusiastic audience of people from six states on January 19, 2013. It was screened at the high school in North Plainfield, New Jersey, on April 13, and a special screening of the film was hosted by the Wyoming Valley Civil War Round Table. Thus far, more than 1,000 viewers have seen the documentary and on all three occasions, they greeted it with a standing ovation.

The film will be shown again at the Northeast Pennsylvania History Conference at Luzerne County Community College’s Educational Conference Center on Friday, September 20 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

(Published in the Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, PA Sunday, July 7, 2013)

_________________________________________________________________
William C. Kashatus teaches history at Luzerne County Community College. He can be contacted at Bkashatus@luzerne.edu

For Further Reading: Michael Shaara, “The Killer Angels” (1974)

Photographs courtesy of Mussari-Loftus Associates, Ltd.

Documenting an educational experience at Gettysburg

By AMY STANSBURY
The Evening Sun

Posted: 01/17/2013 09:16:17 PM EST

Tony and Kitch Mussari are lovers of all things ordinary.

They have even managed to make a career out of it, traveling across the country documenting the lives of regular Americans on their best days. This weekend they will be in Gettysburg showcasing their latest foray into the world of ordinary – a documentary about a high school field trip to the battlefield.

"I can still see them walking off that school bus today," Tony said with a glisten in his eye.

Tony is a retired documentary filmmaker and teacher, and his wife Kitch is a retired journalist. After Sept. 11 they sought out to record all that is good in the country with their documentary series, "The Face of America."

While on their travels they stopped at a Flight 93 memorial service in Shanksville where they met a group of North Plainfield High School cheerleaders. And from there the Gettysburg project was born.

The Mussaris produced two documentaries about these cheerleaders who made a habit of visiting Sept. 11 memorial sites each year and from then on were welcomed into the New Jersey high school with open arms.

"We have become the adopted son and daughter of North Plainfield," Tony said. "They have given an old teacher a new classroom."

With the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg coming up, the Dallas residents chose Gettysburg as the theme of their next North Plainfield documentary, called

"Walking Into the Light at Gettysburg." They brought 10 North Plainfield students and five chaperones to Gettysburg last April for a three-day educational immersion experience and filmed every moment of it.

"There were no scripts," Tony said. "We just took them to a place and followed them around in an unobtrusive way, as if the camera was not there."

The Mussaris brought the students on a tour of the battlefield with a licensed battlefield guide and brought living history actors portraying Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee to speak to the students. From the time the students woke up in the morning from the time they went to sleep, said Tony, they were learning.

"This wasn’t just a chance for them to get out of school," Tony said. "There were no ice cream socials or pizza parties."

"It’s experiential learning in its very best form," Tony said.

Two months after the trip was over, the Mussaris returned to North Plainfield to interview the students and test their retention of what they had learned at Gettysburg.

"It’s stunning what they learned," Tony said, emphasizing that it was not just facts and figures that they remembered, but a deeper understanding of war and heroism.

"We took them to the Pennsylvania monument and they read those names," Tony said. "It made them stop and think about what life is really about."

In today’s celebrity-driven culture, Tony said, it is important to make sure young people are still learning these deeper lessons about helping others and standing up for what is right.

"You can find everything that is good and bad about our country in the Battle of Gettysburg," said Tony. "To learn about this place is a lifetime pursuit."

If you go

What: "Walking Into the Light at Gettysburg" documentary
When: Sat. Jan. 19, 5 p.m.
Where: Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Kinsley Theater
Cost: Free

Visiting North Plainfield High School: 4 Days in December a Review

By Skip Pulcrano
Coach: North Plainfield Cheerleaders
North Plainfield, New Jersey

The days December 2-6, were incredible – educational – heartwarming – touching – connecting – emotional – at times painful yet joyous – tense and peaceful. In a word, they were remarkable. How quickly those four days passed – how short they now seem, yet they were nothing short of inspirational.

It was an experience like no other I have ever encountered, and I am sure it was the same for many others.

Watching you hold the attention and go beyond the point of captivating close to a thousand high school students was "a level of difficulty" so beautifully mastered. It was a teaching moment, a learning moment, with a special connection that only those with a special gift can achieve.

If I did not see it, hear it, and feel it, I would not believe that anyone could keep the attention of teenagers for more than an hour. “Doc 05” did it methodically, masterfully and purposefully with messages of affirmation, hope and selfless service to others.

There was an awesome glow that filled North Plainfield High School and the community of North Plainfield on those days – a glow surrounding, a documentary that captured feelings and emotions on many different levels – a creative masterpiece of love and caring, graced by the genuine love and caring that came out of this piece, which also reflects the genuine love and caring that went into the production of "Shanksville PA: A Place of Transformation."

“Emily’s Legacy," the film about Emily Perez, the incredible passion with which you told her story with the heartfelt words of four North Plainfield students – her parents being there Tuesday evening – the special meaning of courage, patriotism, honor, self motivation of Emily and her family – what a wonderful gift to share with the students and community of North Plainfield – what power, what class, what inspiration.

Your tradition of giving gifts at the end of each premiere is so special and touching. But the gifts you have given my students that pour out of your documentaries and heart are lifetime treasures that surpass any other gifts they will ever receive wrapped in paper and tied with a bow.

Your paper is love and your bow is caring – gifts so precious.

A special note of congratulations to Tony and Kitch for having December 6th forever assigned to be "Your Special Day" by proclamation of the mayor – an honor earned with dedication and so richly deserved because of your service to our school and its students.

And a most special feeling of gratitude to Joanne Biviano, The NPHS Chorus and the NPHS JROTC Color Guard, the creative talents and dedication of Tom Mazur and all who added to their creative contributions to a most memorable event and gift to our students, school and community.

And – "Gratitude Beyond Gratitude" to Tony & Kitch Mussari for capturing America on its best day for four days in December here in North Plainfield New Jersey.

Searching for the Face of America

Film maker’s visit to classroom makes a positive impression on students

By Leigh Ann Schoffstall and Patrick Wesley, Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD

On October 5, 2011, the MCOM/HIST 150 “Movies: History and Art” class had the pleasure of meeting with a prominent documentary filmmaker, Dr. Tony Mussari. Dr. Mussari, the former chairperson of the Mass Communications department at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, has been documenting the lives of others for more than 30 years. He was invited to speak to the class by the instructor, and his former student, Dr. Rick Ostopowicz (affectionately known as “Dr. O.” by the students).

It was just like any other night in the movie history class, only because Dr. O.’s class is anything but typical. Reflecting on that evening, students could tell that Dr. Mussari was very passionate about his profession. As he began to speak about his background, credentials, and his current and most significant task to date—another documentary in his “What is America?” film series, it was clear that this man is filled with wisdom and experience. He was willing to share his most life altering project with a class of diversely opinionated students. The project that is precious to him has spanned the last ten years.

Over a decade ago, Dr. Mussari decided that, instead of a Mercedes Benz or a month long European vacation, he would invest in a camera that he and his wife, Kitch, would use—along with their determination—to find the true face of America. Their dream and passion came through brilliantly in their latest documentary, where they capture for eternity the events that took place in the sky and on the ground in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. In the film, Dr. Mussari showcased high school students as they visited the 9/11 Shanksville memorial. Together, through this great loss many years ago, they attempt to find peace, solace, and some answers about the qualities of togetherness.

The remnants of 9/11 have a special place in the hearts of every American. More specifically, Flight 93 has a deep attachment with Dr. Mussari—so deep that he has spent 10 years of his life devoted to telling the stories of all the lives affected, rather than following the path of other film makers that just told the stories of the victims’ families. In the final documentary of the series, screened for the class, Dr. Mussari followed the North Plainfield New Jersey high school cheerleaders during their two-day experience of visiting the site of the Flight 93 crash, meeting the townspeople, and hearing the stories from the Shanksville perspective. It was very moving, as Dr. Mussari was able to capture the realism and make you feel like you were there. Additionally, the students shared their thoughts about what it means to be an American.

The culturally diverse group gave honest and compelling thoughts and feelings that were honest and hopeful.

After the screening, Dr. Mussari graciously welcomed comments and critiques. Most students commented on particular points of the film, such as how it highlighted the diversity of the students. It was so interesting for a class of about 15-20 students to watch the same film yet have such different views. A lengthy conversation after the film found many emotions floating on the surface. Like any great documentary, Dr. Mussari’s work gets emotional reactions in many forms. “This is the greatest compliment anyone could ever pay me,” said Mussari, who sees his passion crossing over into the minds and hearts of his audience. This latest documentary in his series made its viewers emotional like a famous painting or a timeless song.

At the end of class, Dr. Mussari had a surprise for the students and professor. Through his film series, he met Joanne Galvin, the woman who created the national 9/11 remembrance flag. Dr. Mussari explained that for the last few years, he was given the opportunity to pass along this flag as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made on that fateful day, as well as to display his gratitude for people sharing in his film making experiences. To that end, he presented the class and CCBC with this momentous flag. It was an honor to be a part of the presentation, as the flag is a tangible representation of how Americans will never forget the events of that day.

In our time together, Dr. Mussari did a lot of talking about the heroes of flight 93. These heroes gave their lives to protect the innocent, but we must not forget that heroes walk among us every day. Perhaps people who spend a large parcel of their lives and completely fund projects like this documentary could be considered heroes in their own right.

Most of us would never take on a project for 10 years. Yet, Dr. Mussari did, and he did it with pride and excitement. His goal to help us never forget the stories of Flight 93 and lives that were impacted in that small town rang true for the CCBC students. His work and words made us realize that we can all reach a little higher.

A Return to a Simpler Era

A Review of “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation”

Dr. Rick Ostopowicz, Adjunct Professor—Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD

We live in a digital age, where people have shorter attention spans and, therefore, need information in a much quicker and visually stimulating manner. In response to this need, documentary filmmaking has, in many instances, resorted to using “shock value” in order to keep viewers engaged. Fast-paced graphics, alarming images, and staggering sound bites are all too abundant in today’s documentary films, as filmmakers see a need to overwhelm the viewers’ senses in order to draw in the audience and get the message across.

Thankfully, however, there are still filmmakers that don’t see the need to rely on such “visual junk food,” instead using a minimalistic approach to tell a story with heart, conviction, and emotion. Through the film “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation,” Mussari-Loftus Productions resonates the spirit of the small-town setting—simple, slower-paced, peaceful, heartwarming—in order to tell the story of America through the eyes of young people.

The film tells the story of the small Pennsylvania town that was changed forever on September 11, 2001, when United Flight 93 crashed into a field during the terrorist attacks that stunned the nation. In the annals of history, Shanksville gets very little attention in recounting the details of that fateful day; after all, the death toll was much less than in New York, and the crash site was much less prominent than the Pentagon. However, for the people of Shanksville, “9/11” marked a turning point for the small town—from disaster, shock, and sadness came hope, inspiration, community, and thankfulness.

In the latest film of their What Is America? series, Tony and Kitch Mussari follow the cheerleading squad of North Plainfield (NJ) High School as the students visit the Shanksville memorial site. Featuring young people with diverse cultural backgrounds sets apart the mood and tone for the film in contrast with other 9/11 documentaries; while many look back upon the events of that day with a somber mood, the Shanksville film uses the plane crash as the springboard from which hope and thankfulness leap forth.

As each member of the squad is interviewed, the viewer gets two distinct messages: reflection on 9/11 through the eyes of people that were very young when the events took place, and the view of the “next generation” about what the future holds. Each interview moves the viewer in a different way—for example, one student talks about being the daughter of immigrants, stating how she is her parents’ “gift to America.” Another discusses her desire to be a neurologist and the negative feedback she has received for wanting to pursue that academic and professional route. Meanwhile, a Flight 93 Ambassador discusses the importance of Shanksville in the overall tome of 9/11—a small town that has opened its hearts and hearths to bring so many diverse people together in remembrance and reflection.

Intertwined with the interviews are sound bites from 9/11 and Flight 93 that allow the viewer to feel the raw emotion of that day as air traffic controllers and passengers struggled against the sheer gravity of the hijacking and crash. Also, Shanksville residents are able to provide their reflections of 9/11 and its aftermath, also demonstrating a solid state of reflection, remembrance, and optimism.

In just under an hour, “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation” takes the viewer on an emotional roller coaster ride using nothing more than raw emotion, moving imagery, touching music, and intricate storytelling. With no tricks, no gimmicks, and no “lowest common denominator” shock value, the Mussaris show that a documentary does not need to lower its standards—and the standards of the viewer—in order to be effective and moving. In fact, by taking a different route that avoids showing explosions, bodies falling from buildings, and other sensationalist items, the Shanksville film gives the viewer wide interpretation of the meaning of 9/11, allowing one’s personal reflections to guide the thoughts about that day. Instead, we all see the unity and spirit of hope born from that faithful day, as told through the eyes of both the young and the “young at heart.”

All told, the Shanksville piece takes the viewer to a place very similar to the small Pennsylvania town in which it was filmed—a simpler place and time where people can get away from the distractions and shock of “modern” society to reflect, remember, and renew their spirits.
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Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation

A Review by Tom Mazur

Tony Mussari has captured on film the essence of how 9/11 has transformed the America of today.

Reverently telling the story of the brave passengers of Flight 93, who prevented further tragedy on September 11, 2001, by forcing their high-jacked airplane to the ground in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Mussari also presents America ten years later represented by cheerleaders from North Plainfield High School, in New Jersey.

The film affirms an America as a place living up to its promises. A resilient America.

This is the last in a series of 22 documentaries about, September 11, 2001, the story of Shanksville and America.

It begins with a scene of a now peaceful Shanksville field unfolding on the screen. Three separate times, three separate places and three separate groups of people are then juxtaposed in a story that will transcend time, transcend place and transcend ego.

The North Plainfield High School Concert Band is heard and shown performing “Flight of Valor” at their school’s Spring Concert. This dramatic musical tribute to the heroic passengers of Flight 93 becomes the underscore of scenes retelling the tragic events that occurred over Shanksville on September 11, 2001.

I am proud of how well the students in the band sound and grateful to Tony Mussari for including this music in his film. I am further impressed with how the sequence of visuals are synchronized with the dynamic changes in the musical arrangement.

I am moved by the actions of the residents of the very small village of Shanksville, who immediately after September 11, 2001 create a peaceful shrine at the field where Flight 93 violently pierced the earth; how they became caretakers of the site and ambassadors for the thousands and thousands of people who traveled to honor the sacrifice made for them at this sacred place.

Teenagers from North Plainfield, New Jersey, 300 miles and 5 hours from Shanksville, members of the high school cheerleading squad are seen in their uniforms, on a windy and rainy day, placing small American flags in the hands of tiny ceramic angels at the People’s Memorial. I am deeply affected by their dignity and grace.

Individually they speak on camera of their distress over the event that brought them to Shanksville, yet they also speak of their gratitude for the sacrifice that enables them to pursue their dreams of self realization, which all involve service to others in one way or another.

I am engrossed by what I am seeing and hearing. I am enfolded by the story. A story of such complex emotion, yet gripped with the simple thought, “What does it mean to be an American?” “What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation as that experienced by the passengers of Flight 93?” Swirls of furious thoughts are lifted to a sensuous peaceful feeling by the introduction of a simple melody and poignant lyrics that affirm “I’ll always remember the way we came together.”

I see 2001; 2011; and the future. I see Shanksville; North Plainfield; and America.

I see the passengers of Flight 93; the Ambassadors of Shanksville; and the Cheerleaders of North Plainfield High School.

And the film has brought it all together. Service to others; citizenship; honor towards one another; respect; resoluteness. America on its best days. America’s tomorrow…Today. WOW!

"Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation" is an absorbing piece of living history that transcends sentimentality and reaches into the very heart of America at its best; not a place constricting or retreating within, rather a place that through the suffering of great tragedy continues to live its dreams, which is exemplified by the touching and impressive voices of the students from North Plainfield.

Dr. Mussari has created a transcendent, yet practical work of art.

Tom Mazur
Supervisor of Fine, Practical and Performing Arts
North Plainfield High School
34 Wilson Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07060

Dallas couple produces film inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks

By William C. Kashatus (correspondent)The Citizens’ Voice
Published: September 11, 2011

On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, intentionally crashing two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Everyone on board and thousands of those working in the buildings were killed. Within two hours, both towers collapsed, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon while a fourth plane, targeting either the Capitol building or the White House, crashed in a field near Shanksville, after passengers tried to take control of it.

Nearly 3,000 victims died in the attacks. Of the 2,753 people who lost their lives when the Twin Towers fell were 343 firefighters and 60 police officers from New York City, and eight private emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Another 184 people were killed in the attack on the Pentagon. There were no survivors from any of the flights. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians.
It was the worst day in American history.

Documentary film producers Anthony Mussari and Kathleen "Kitch" Loftus were so moved by the tragedy they felt compelled to create a film series about America on its best day. They began with a series titled "What Is America?" – an impressive effort "to honor and remember all those who lost their lives on 9/11."

Every year since, the Dallas couple screened an episode of the series in Shanksville. But they also wanted to celebrate our country and its resilience after such a devastating tragedy. So last year, Tony and Kitch began their search for the "face of America" on its best day. The result is an illuminating 22-episode series aptly titled, "The Face of America," which can be viewed at faceofamericawps.com. The series is based on more than 140 hours of videotaped materials, 56,000 digital images and 430 interviews the Dallas couple compiled during the course of a 32,000-mile journey across the United States.

Unlike so many other film producers who’ve emphasized the "problems with the United States" and its involvement in the War on Terror, Tony and Kitch chose to focus on the positive aspects of America.

Their rationale is clear: when viewers are exposed to negativity, it causes them to think negatively and to expect negative things to happen.

So why feed the negativity? Create something more meaningful by focusing on the positive, like the contributions that ordinary people make every day to make our country a better place in which to live.

"In our travels across this country, we
found the next ‘Greatest Generation,’ in American history," explained Tony. "We wanted to highlight the people we met, the places we visited, the things we learned from Americans at the ground level- the physicians, teachers, soldiers, environmentalists, and high school students among others."

"These people may not make newspaper headlines but they represent the values that this nation was founded on: service, innovation, perseverance, and commitment. These are the people who make this country work. They’re not people of power, prominence and notoriety. Instead they go about their work quietly and purposefully without any fanfare or publicity. They are the people who represent the face of America on its very best days."

It’s a "grass roots" approach to documenting history, and one that insures that the unheralded efforts of everyday Americans are recognized. They are people like Dr. Stephen Post, who’s conducted groundbreaking research in Compassionate Care and Medical Humanities at Stony Brook Medical College of New York; Erin Donovan, an employee of the Boston Red Sox, who participates in the team’s "Home Base Project," a partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital in identifying, motivating and treating service members, veterans and their families who’ve been adversely affected by war; the cheerleaders at North Plainfield (N.J.) High School, who make an annual service trip to Shanksville to honor the heroes of the downed United Flight 93; Val McClatchey, who snapped the gripping photograph of Flight 93 immediately after it crashed; and Joanne Galvin, the designer of the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag. But the most poignant tribute is reserved for 2nd Lt. Emily Perez, who was killed in Iraq on Sept. 12, 2006.

Although the couple never met the young soldier, they had taken film footage of her drilling some first year cadets at West Point when they visited the military academy some years earlier. Serendipity intervened when Tony read a newspaper article indicating that Emily Perez was the first female Black/Hispanic honors graduate of West Point to die in the Iraqi war.

Impressed by her background, he set out to learn as much as possible about the once-promising young soldier. During their "Face of America" journey, Tony and Kitch interviewed Emily’s parents and her track coach.

"Emily was a bright young woman and a talented athlete," said Tony. "She was mentally and physically tough, and dedicated to serving her country and others. In fact, just before she was deployed, Emily donated her bone marrow to save the life of another human being. This young woman could have gone to any college or university in the country. But she chose West Point, she chose to serve in Iraq, and she made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Second Lieutenant Emily Perez represents the very best of America and was really the inspiration for the entire series."

When Emily’s father, Daniel, met the couple and learned of their intention to memorialize his daughter in their film project, he was deeply moved. "After Emily’s death, we felt forsaken by our president, military, and our nation as a whole," recalled Daniel Perez in a recent testimonial. "That’s what we thought until one cold winter day, Tony and Kitch came into our lives. It is through their loving and compassionate work that we’re able to see that Emily’s passing was not in vain or forgotten, but celebrated. Their selfless and inspiring masterpiece has been very instrumental in our healing process as well as restoring our faith in America."

Emily Perez, Joanne Galvin, Val McClatchey, the cheerleaders of North Plainfield, New Jersey, High School, Erin Donovan, Stephen Post and more than 400 others became the "Face of America" for Tony and Kitch.

"Since meeting these people, my love for this country has grown exponentially," Tony confessed. Kitch and I want to share that feeling with others. We want them to see how wonderful Americans are as a people, and how remarkable our country is." A quick survey of the materials on "The Face of America" website indicates that the local couple has achieved that objective.

The emotions one feels reading the articles and viewing the videos is profound, ranging from somberness to celebration, and reverence to national pride. Those feelings are enhanced by Mike Lewis’s sound track, which lends a melodic dignity to the films.

What distinguishes "The Face of America" series is a powerful appeal to the viewer’s intellect as well as heart. While the films capture the natural beauty of America at its scenic and human best, viewers are also exposed to the profound wisdom of Aeschylus, the Greek philosopher, who remarked, "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." The quote offers sympathy for those who’ve lost a loved one during the 9/11 tragedy and in the War on Terrorism.

Immediately after, the viewer is exposed to the inspirational words of journalist Norman Cousins, who reminds us that "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." It is a gentle encouragement to remain true to those things that are most meaningful in our lives instead of becoming bitter over the death of someone we love. Love, after all, is eternal, unless we allow the memory of that person to die.

These "voices of wisdom" appear sporadically throughout the series and offer viewers an opportunity to find meaning in their own lives as well as in the examples of those who are portrayed in the various films.

The dual appeal to the heart and mind has, over the years, become a signature of Mussari- Loftus productions, beginning with "Windsor Park Stories" which aired from 1997 to 2009, first on WVIA-TV and, later on WBRE-TV.

"If you can’t strike an emotional chord then a lot of people might be turned off," explained Kitch. "We’ve found that most people are looking for something to touch them, emotionally. It’s more meaningful to them than an intellectual approach. Once they’re given that, they might be ready to go to the intellectual level. If not, that’s their choice. But we want to reach as many viewers as we can and the appeal to both emotion and intellect allow us to do that."

While producing "The Face of America" might seem like living a dream for documentary film producers, the couple experienced some painful reality checks along the way. During their cross-country trip, they lost more than a thousand digital images, suffered a nasty car accident, and shortly after returning home, Kitch was diagnosed with cancer.

"Quite honestly, you deal with it," admitted Kitch. "What’s the choice? Okay, so we lost all those digital images. But Tony was able to find some similar ones in the public domain online. Our car was totaled, but thanks to safety belts and well-constructed head rests, we weren’t hurt. It was just a car; it can be replaced. As far as the cancer is concerned, I had the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and now I’m a survivor.

"Sure, cancer forces you to put your life into a proper perspective. In fact, we interviewed several people on our trip who were dealing with cancer. They were some of the most inspirational people we met. When they learned of my diagnosis, they became wonderful support for me. That alone made the entire project a blessing."

"The Face of America" is also the subject of a recently completed manuscript by Tony and Kitch. Titled "America at its Best," the work is currently in the hands of a New York literary agent who plans to identify a publisher before year’s end. It will be yet another inspirational gift from a remarkable couple who’ve given our region so many labors of love and a profound insight into what it means to be an American.

William Kashatus teaches history at Luzerne County Community College. He can be contacted at Bkashatus@luzerne.edu.

(Credit all the following photos to Mussari-Loftus Productions, Inc.) (2) Tony & Kitch Loftus-Mussari at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota in 2009; (3) Drill sergeant Emily Perez commands new cadets at West Point in 2005; (4) The People’s Memorial to United Flight 93, Shanksville, PA; and (5) Joanne Galvin presents 9/11 National 9/11 Remembrance Flag to cheerleaders of North Plainfield (NJ) High School as Tony Mussari films.

Published: September 8
The Times Leader

Couple honor Shanksville ‘angels’ with documentary and garden

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

Tony and Kitch Mussari believe the victims of Flight 93 are often overlooked.

DALLAS – Tony Mussari calls the actions of passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001, “so symbolic of what America is on its best day.”

“It was quintessential America,” Mussari said.

(Kitch and Tony Mussari of Dallas in their Angel Garden, a memorial to Flight 93 victims of Sept 11. The garden contains markers and names of all the passengers and crew members, a Flight 93 flag and a rock for every life lost at all sites on 9/11. It’s a labor of love and deep respect for the victims, their families and friends, according to the couple, they produce an anniversary video about the crash each year. Picture by Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader)