We live about a mile from the Flight 93 National Memorial, and try to keep our property litter-free so that visitors are left with a favorable impression of America’s county. Complaining about trash thrown out of cars and ending up in front of my neighbors’ lawns had no effect, so I try to turn cleanup into a socio-economic exercise.

When previously predominant Old Milwaukee and generic beer cans have been superseded by Coors and Budweiser empties, I take that as a sign of an improving economy. I also find many energy-enhancing drink bottles. Does anyone else see the irony of people not walking to a proper disposal site?

Finding lite beer and sugarless soft drink cans leads me to conclude that locals are becoming more health conscious, but an increase of cigarette packs and chewing tobacco empties doesn’t support that conclusion.

I am finding more Subway and Arby’s bags instead of McDonald’s wrappers, which may support my economic assumptions.

I could certainly give many more conclusions based on my collecting, but I need to go out for my weekly round of cleaning up after the lazy slobs who contribute to my research.

Ed Klein

Shanksville

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