Bloomberg visits Sept. 11 site in Pa.

SHANKSVILLE, Pa., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said fundraising for memorials to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack victims has almost met its target.

Bloomberg on Sunday went to the site in Shanksville, Pa., where United Flight 93 crashed after passengers foiled hijackers. He presented a flag that had flown over the World Trade Center site, which National Park Foundation officials erected over the planned site for a memorial.

Bloomberg became chairman of the fundraising group almost a year ago and has helped swell donations by $190 million. On a visit to Pittsburgh, he said the New York memorial fund had raised $325 million, although the Pennsylvania project is struggling, The New York Times reported.

Patrick White, vice president of the Families of Flight 93, said less than half of the $30 million target had been collected, and there was concern the project might not be completed in time for the attacks' 10th anniversary.

White said the Flight 93 Task Force was meeting in New York next month and there were hopes Bloomberg would attend and possibly donate some of his personal fortune to the cause, which has so far collected $12.5 million, the Times said.