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The hijacked planes that brought death and destruction to American skies on 9/11 25 years ago produced a memorable change in Pennsylvania state government.
The transition spanned from Gov. Tom Ridge's press briefing on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, to the inauguration of Gov. Mark Schweiker as his successor three weeks later on Oct. 5.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission features documents relating to the period in an exhibit at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg.
The 9/11 tragedy holds special significance for Pennsylvania because hijacked Flight 93 crash-landed in a field in western Pennsylvania with the loss of all aboard.
Hijackers tried to divert the plane to Washington D.C., but passengers rallied to stop them and forced the plane down. The Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County honors those passengers.
Speaking to reporters at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters that 9/11 afternoon, Ridge dispatched 100 state troopers to the crash site which he described as a "crime scene."
He sent state troopers to guard Pennsylvania's five nuclear reactors, a sign of the post-attack jitters that grounded commercial U.S. air travel until Sept. 13.
Ridge alerted the Pennsylvania National Guard for possible support missions and outlined plans to send heavy equipment to New York City.
"This will be one of those days people look back on 50 to 100 years from now," said Ridge.
He was accompanied by Schweiker, the lieutenant governor.
Within days, Ridge announced at another press conference that President George W. Bush tapped him to become the first director of the new U.S. Office of Homeland Security.
Six years in office, Ridge was on Bush's shortlist for vice president the year before.
One of Ridge's final actions before he resigned as governor was to hold a press where he gave each reporter attending the opportunity to ask a question.
Schweiker inauguration
Schweiker's inauguration on Oct. 5 was the first civic ceremony since 9/11.
Schweiker took the oath outdoors at the Capitol's front entrance.
A poignant site was a line of state troopers on horseback across both driveways leading to the entrance.
"I will work to ensure that where Pennsylvanians live they are free from fear," said Schweiker.
He ordered another 110 state troopers on highway patrol and to guard airports along with the National Guard.
Following that, Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, took the oath of office of lieutenant governor in the Senate chambers.
Schweiker spoke during an interview before these events about the value of teamwork.
He skillfully put that value into practice during the successful rescue of nine trapped coal miners from the Quecreek mine in Somerset County in 2002.
Ridge became first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Schweiker filled out his term as governor until 2003.