Places 6 - The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial

While the nation was riveted on the burning Twin Towers, there were two other planes determined to take out symbols of our national government. The one that was supposed to hit the Capitol went down in Pennsylvania, thanks to the heroism of the passengers. The other struck the Pentagon. Because we live in the Washington media market, our local news covered more of the Pentagon disaster.

Entrance to the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial (2 August 2009)

The inscription on the right says,

“We claim this ground in remembrance

of the events of September 11, 2001.

To honor the 184 people whose lives were

lost, their families, and all who sacrifice

that we may live in freedom.

We will never forget.”

When American Airlines Flight 77 out of Dulles slammed into our nations’ military headquarters, 120 Defense Department personnel and contractors were killed in the building. There were 64 passengers and crew on the plane and enough fuel to reach its destination, Los Angeles.

Pentagon 9-11 Memorial (3 April 2011)

On September 11, 2008, the first of three national 9/11 memorials was dedicated alongside the restored building. The impressive ceremony included President Bush and members from all the service branches who stood by each of the 184 benches to ceremonially remove the dark blue shrouds that covered them.

Viewing the scene from certain angles can be confusing as the benches seem to be positioned in no logical pattern. Upon closer inspection, the elegance of the placement hits home. First, the almost two-acre site is right next to the side of the Pentagon where the plane crashed at 9:37 AM. The entire array is organized based on the age of the victims with the youngest, 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg at one end and 71-year-old retired Navy Captain John Yamnicky at the other. Between the two, everyone is located based on the month and year of their birth. This was done to unify the victims without regard to their status as military or civilian, man or woman, class or rank.

Little Dana’s Bench (3 April 2011)

The name of each victim is engraved on a stainless steel plates set in the front, free-standing edge of his/her bench. If the victim died in the Pentagon, the bench faces away from the building so you can see the name and the building behind it. If the victim was on the plane, you will read the name with the western sky as a backdrop knowing they came from that direction before hitting the building.

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial (3 April 2011)

Each bench is suspended over a trough of running water that adds both visual and sound qualities to the scene. At night, each bench is lit from below to illuminate the troughs and reflect off the undersides of the benches. It is quite stunning and I must return one day to capture that scene.

Visiting the Memorial is a sobering experience and brings back so many vivid memories from this generation’s ‘Pearl Harbor’ event. It is seared into our consciousness forever. Next 9/11, I’ll post images from the World Trade Center Memorial. May all those we lost rest in peace.