Norwin grads killed in 9/11 attacks remembered with a plaque

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Norwin grads killed in 9/11 attacks remembered with a plaque

Joe Napsha | Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:00 p.m.

Joe Napsha | Tribune-Review

Members of Norwin High School graduate Brian Dale’s family look at the memorial plaque dedicated Saturday at the Norwin High School Veterans Memorial to Dale and fellow Norwin graduate David Kovalcin, both of whom died on Sept. 11, 2001, when the American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the World Trade Center North Tower at 8:46 a.m. It was the first of the four hijacked planes to be crashed that day. Pictured (from left) are Louanne Baily, Brian’s widow; Mary Dale, Brian’s mother; and Rachel Dale, his 19-year-old daughter. The memorial service, attended by about 100 people, including family members and school officials, and was organized by the Norwin Air Force Junior ROTC.

Two Norwin High School graduates who were among the first victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, were remembered Saturday in a memorial ceremony at the Norwin High School Veterans Memorial.

A plaque with the names of Brian Dale, class of 1976, and David Kovalcin, class of 1977, who were aboard American Airlines Flight 11 that crashed into the World Trade Center Tower North on that fateful day, was unveiled Saturday morning on a bench in front of the memorial.

About 100 people, including members of both the Dale and Kovalcin families and school officials, were at the 20-minute ceremony conducted by the Norwin Air Force Junior ROTC.

Edward Kovalcin of Manor, David’s brother, accepted the American flag in his honor and Louanne Baily of Pittsburgh, widow of Brian Dale, accepted the flag presented in her husband’s honor.

The plane in which they were traveling for business purposes was the first of four planes hijacked by Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda to be intentionally crashed. Another plane crashed that morning into the World Trade Center South Tower; another hit the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville as passengers rallied to retake the plane from the terrorists.

The bench is in front of the memorial that contains the names of 21 Norwin High School graduates who died in the service of their country, including those who were killed in the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the war on terror since 2001.

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Correction: This story was updated to reflect Louanne Baily’s relationship with Brian Dale.

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