A Solemn Visit to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

What a moving experience to see the Pentagon's 9/11 Memorial.

It felt right to pay my respects to those who lost their lives that day and 

to honor those first responders who acted to save the lives of many others.

Fifteen years ago. September 11, 2001.

We all remember where we were that day.

This list of too many names of those who died that day

is arranged according to their birth years, as is the Memorial's design.

A peaceful reverence.

The "gateway" of the Memorial notes the date, as well as the time of the attack.

Here's a photo of a "Memorial Unit," one for each victim.

It's a cantilevered bench with granite on the top.

Underneath is a rectangular pool of rippling water that is lit at night.

The benches are situated in parallel lines along the flight path of the plane.

They are arranged in order of the victims' birth years.

The first bench is for 3 year old Dana Falkenberg, who was aboard Flight 77.

Each name is engraved on the side edge of the bench.

If other family members perished, as was the case with Dana's family, 

their names are engraved on a ledge of the water feature.

Stainless steel strips in the ground lead to the side walls

where plaques with the corresponding birth years are located.

Notice that some benches are facing in opposite directions.

When reading a name, if you look up and see the Pentagon,

that person was among the 125 victims in the Pentagon. 

If you look up and see the sky in the other direction, 

that person was among the 59 victims aboard Flight 77.

Looking outward opposite the Pentagon, the US Air Force Memorial is in the distance.

Two reasons for this photo:

The foreground shows the ornamental grasses that line the fencing.

In the background we see evidence of the Pentagon's rebuild:

The new, lighter limestone on the left contrasts the darker on the right.

It was taken from the same quarry as the original.

85 white crape myrtles are planted throughout the Memorial.

In time, they'll reach a potential height of 30',

providing a pleasant canopy of shade over the benches.

 The last bench of the Memorial is for John Yamnicky, 

who was born in 1930, and died at age 73 on 9/11/01.

The names of those 184 souls who lost their lives...

Learn much more at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial website.

You may also be interested to read these posts:

Visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial -Shanksville, PA

To the Top of Baltimore's World Trade Center -honoring
those Marylanders who died in the 9/11 attacks.

The US Air Force Memorial - Honoring Airmen with Reverent Patriotism
Our Day at Arlington National Cemetery
Honoring the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington, VA

To the Top of Baltimore's World Trade Center

I've been to Baltimore's Inner Harbor several times, but this time was extra special.

I met two dear childhood friends there for an overnight, a visit that was long past due.

We did tons of catching up and reminiscing, and enjoyed every minute!

Aside from the terrific girlfriend time,
a highlight of the trip was something I'd not done on past visits:

viewing the city from "The Top of the World," the 

observation level of Baltimore's World Trade Center.

Located on Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor,

it's the world's tallest pentagonal building.

How's that for some trivia?

Outside the entrance is a memorial for the Maryland victims 
of the September 11, 2001 attacks. 
Three steel beams from New York's World Trade Center,
twisted and melted into one another, reminded us of 
the devastation of that very sad day in U.S. history.

We noticed that a timeline of that day's events 
was engraved into one side of the marble platform.
It was ingeniously designed in such a way that, like a sundial,
on the 11th of September each year, the shadow of the building
touches each inscription at the time that event occurred.

The memorial continued at The Top of the World with 
a solemn tribute, including photos of the 68 Maryland victims.
The names of all of the 9/11 victims
(Twin Towers, Pentagon and Shanksville, PA)
were etched into the glass windows.

An elevator whisked us up to the 27th floor where enormous windows 
on every side provided dramatic 360 degree views!

Panoramic views of the city and beyond! Magnificent!

Along with other Baltimore landmarks, we spotted the Shot Tower.

A National Historic Landmark, it was part of a gun shot factory from 1828 to 1892.

Molten lead was dropped from the top of the tower, through a sieve,

and into cold water at the bottom, where it became round and smooth.

Fascinating, isn't it?

A birds-eye view of the historic Pratt St. Power Plant,

inhabited by Phillips Seafood, Barnes & Noble, and the Hard Rock Cafe.

Here's the National Aquarium and the historic WWII-era submarine, the USS Torsk.

Looking out across the Inner Harbor to the Chesapeake Bay.

A nice view of Federal Hill Park.

Looking down at the heart of the Inner Harbor.

Back down at sea level, here's the 1854 sloop, the USS Constellation.

Posing with the fleet of Chesapeake Bay "Chessie Monster" paddle boats.

And a shot of the World Trade Center from the other side of the harbor.

Notice that gorgeous sky. Yep, it really was that blue.

Such a beautiful, clear day to take in the Inner Harbor!

Find out more at the Top of the World website.

Another of my posts that may interest you:
O Say Can You See? My Visit to Fort McHenry

Great friends, great times!
Baltimore 2016

Visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial - Shanksville, PA

Being a Pennsylvanian, I've long wanted to travel
to Shanksville to see the Flight 93 National Memorial. 

This past autumn, the new Visitors Center opened there, 

which was added incentive to make the trip.

We sadly remember that dreadful day in history: September 11, 2001.
Two planes, hijacked by terrorists, crashed into the 
towers of the World Trade Center and a third hit the Pentagon.

The fourth plane, United 93, was meant to continue the devastation in
Washington, D.C. by most likely targeting the Capitol Building.
After discovering the intent of their hijackers, 
the 40 passengers and crew members decided 
to thwart that plan by storming the cockpit.
The plane crashed into an empty field near Shanksville, PA,
just 18 minutes flight time from its destination.
The Flight 93 National Memorial honors that act of heroism
and pays respect to all who lost their lives that day.

The striking design of the Memorial 
was chosen from over 1,000 entries worldwide.
Its strong symbolism and features were powerful and moving.

We approached the expansive concrete walls via a black granite walkway,
which mirrored the plane's actual flight path.
We were overwhelmed with emotion as we looked above us,
and couldn't help but picture that plane, so close over our heads,
as it streaked to the ground. 

The walkway ends at a glass panel, in which a poignant phrase has been etched:

"A common field one day. A field of honor forever."

From this overlook, we were able to view the crash site.

At the edge of the forest below, a sandstone boulder

marks the place of impact, and the final resting place 
of Flight 93's passengers and crew members.

The boulder can be seen in the field 
where the snow meets the trees

in the center of the photo.

(At the edge of this field is an area known as the Memorial Plaza,
which we will visit and explain in photos to come.)

A close up of the textured walls shows how they were 
designed to resemble the wood of the surrounding hemlock trees. 

Inside the Visitor Center, displays with timelines and artifacts

gave a clear explanation of events of the day.
Recorded phone calls made by passengers to loved ones 
were especially heartbreaking.

How moving to read through the information and be reminded of that awful day.

On impact, the plane was inverted, at a 40 degree angle

and descending at a speed of over 550 miles per hour.

This bronze sculpture shows its approximation to the tree line.

The crater formed was 15' deep and 30' across.

Pieces of the wreckage are on display.

Leaving the Visitors Center, we went down to the Memorial Plaza,
which borders the crash site in the field below.
(In this photo, the Visitors Center is on the right.)

At the end of the walkway is the Wall of Names,
made up of 40 individual marble slabs engraved 
with the names of the passengers and crew members.

The wall, also in line with the plane's flight path, 
provided a place of quiet reverence and reflection.

Faces of heroes.
Such courage was required to move into action in order

to defeat the terrorists' plan of attack on our country's capital.

I looked at each face and name individually,

honoring their memories, and

realizing that mothers and fathers,

wives and husbands, sons and daughters,

brothers and sisters,

were all part of this great sacrifice.

For more information on the Flight 93 National Memorial,
view the National Park Service website.