Pentagon 9-11 Memorial

Here is an article I found on the building of the 9-11 Memorial at the Pentagon.  It discusses the progress and also talks about a recent emotional tour given to family members of the victims who died during the  attack.  Like most Americans, I remember September 11, 2001 like it was yesterday.  I was still on active duty at the time and was working in the operations center of a Defense Intelligence Agency organization about a mile or so  from the Pentagon.  We had multiple televisions on in the center where we monitored news from around the world, and at about 9am we were all watching the scenes of smoke pouring out of one of the World Trade Center buildings.  Some of us were wondering why an airplane would fly so low that it would crash into the huge landmark in New York.  Others of us were sure it was an act of terrorism, but no one knew that for sure.  Then we were all watching as the second plane hit the other tower - there was no doubt now about what was going on. 

Not too long after 9:30 we began hearing sirens all over the place. Reports were coming in of a huge explosion and fire somewhere in Washington DC, and I remember someone came into the operations center saying they could see smoke coming from the direction of the Pentagon. I didn't hear the explosion, but some people on the other side of the building I was in said they felt the impact.  There were rumors of all sorts of other attacks in the area, that thankfully proved false, but people were on edge.   Most everyone in my work space were trying to call their families to let them know they were OK, but because the phone lines were so jammed it was hard to get through - I finally had to send an email to my wife to tell her I was alright.  So began a hair raising week of work.

I posted this because of the Memorial Day theme I'm working on, but also because the Pentagon Memorial Fund still needs help.  I've donated, and am hoping some of my readers who can spare a few dollars will too.  A hundred years from now there will be no first hand knowledge of that day, but we have to ensure that future generations will never forget those whose lives were lost and the suffering of their loved ones. 

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Comments

[Craig Manson]

Tim--I was in DC on 9-11-01 and for four years thereafter. I was about two miles away from the Pentagon when I saw the smoke. Having been in the Building many times over a 30 year military career (13 yrs active duty, 17 yrs Reserve), I couldn't imagine what could have caused such a fireball. Then somebody said, "Turn on CNN . . ."