PhotoHunt - 9/11 Anniversary

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the failed attack that killed all on board United Airlines flight 93 in Pennsylvania. In 2006, the Pentagon Memorial was dedicated to honor the 184 people who lost their lives when American Airlines fight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. The memorial contains a stainless steel, cantilevered bench for each person. The person's name is engraved on the end of the bench. There is a pool of water and a light under each bench, making a striking effect at night. The benches are aligned with the flight path of flight 77 and grouped by age. The direction of each bench indicates whether the person honored was on the plane or in the Pentagon. Paper birch maple trees are planted throughout the memorial to provide shade.

On 9/11/2001 I was at work about 4 miles west of the Pentagon. Shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center, word spread of an explosion and fire in New York. And then we got word of an explosion and fire at the Pentagon. We had one employee working at the Pentagon who reported back to the office that they were evacuating the building. From the 12th floor (I was on the 7th) offices we could see the smoke from the Pentagon. TV and radio were providing continuous coverage, though there was much confusion on what had happened and why. Schools closed early, as did some businesses. Many people left work to pick up their children and be with family.

Shortly after 10:00 am I got a call from Marianne telling me what had happened. She had received calls from her son (in SC) and my daughter who worked in New York City. Susan could see the World Trade Center from her office near Times Square and saw the towers collapse. I stayed at the office for a while, though not much was being accomplished. Rumors of road and bridge closing were heard. About 2 PM, I decided to head home and I found the roads eerily empty. Once home, Marianne and I watched repeated coverage of the events and tried to make sense of this very tragic and heartbreaking day.

Earlier this week I visited the Pentagon Memorial and on this anniversary of 9//11 I want to share a sense of this moving memorial with you.

Bench and water with shadow of tree

View southeast across the Memorial

Memorial is near Flight 77 impact

View southwest towards Air Force Memorial

Washington Post links:

Keith Kaseman and Julie Beckman (Memorial architects)

Victims (and other Memorial info)

Post article September 11, 2010 (includes photo gallery)

Sky Watch - First Saturday skies

Taken the first Saturday of September, three shots of the sky over Carroll Creek and a sunset to end the day.

Window Views - More Frederick windows

Gem stones (and jewlery) are for sale at Earthly Elements. Their display makes for a beautiful window (with a reflection of the building across the street).

Purple umbrella in window

A seafood place near Carroll creek

My World - First Saturday scenes

After weeks of hot weather and hurricane Earl blew by, Saturday was a great day to be outside. First Saturday in started early in the afternoon with music by The Tone Hounds and an auto show by Golden Gears Car Club. So I took my camera and wandered through downtown Frederick. Here are some scenes. More images will be posted here and on my other blogs during the week.

1935 Pontiac Coupe

This gentleman found a seat along Market Street to enjoy the afternoon. He is a retired fireman and described some of the times he responded to fires and accidents. His scrapbook contained newspaper clippings from the early 1980's.

Early crowd at Brewer's Alley patio

Waiting for a fare

PhotoHunt - Still summer here!

Autumn may be in the air in some places and hurricanes are churning up the Atlantic, but not here. Friday was the sixtieth over 90 degrees F (32 C) day in the Washington area this summer. That is not a record (yet) - 67 90+ days is the record. Our heat pump is in the sun until noon, but the sensor underneath in the shade.

Thursday afternoon our porch thermometer recorded a cool 92 in the shade. Cooler weather is forecast for Saturday, and our 90-degree days may be over, but for now our Hot Hot Hot flag will fly!.

Sky Watch - In the sky

Sky over pedestrian bridge

Watching for road kill

Turkey vulture soars skyward

Railroad bridge in the sky

Foggy sky

Window Views - Little Pottery Shop

The windows of The Little Pottery Shop are always offer good viewing from the outside (and there is much more to see inside). Owner Tammy Martinez makes many of the items and also features the work of other local potters. These windows also appeared on my Window Views last August.