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 MemorialWashington Post links:
Keith Kaseman and Julie Beckman (Memorial architects)
Victims (and other Memorial info)
Post article September 11, 2010 (includes photo gallery)
