The Pentagon Memorial

The Pentagon Memorial. It is a permanent outdoor installation honoring the 184 lives lost at The Pentagon during the September 11 attacks in 2001. Located on the southwest side of the building in Arlington, Virginia, the memorial provides a contemplative space for reflection on the tragic events of that day. Its design, selected through an international competition, focuses on individual remembrance within the context of a national tragedy.

History and background

The immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks saw a national push for memorialization at all three crash sites. Planning for a permanent tribute at The Pentagon began in 2002, overseen by the Department of Defense and the Pentagon Memorial Fund. An international design competition was launched, attracting over 1,100 submissions from around the world. The winning design, titled "Reflecting Absence," was created by architects Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, who were then based in New York City. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 15, 2006, with construction managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Design and layout

The memorial's layout is organized by the victims' ages and their locations at the time of the attack, either on American Airlines Flight 77 or within The Pentagon. It features 184 individual memorial units, each comprising a cantilevered bench made of polished stainless steel and illuminated by a pool of light below. The benches are arranged along a timeline of birth years, from the youngest victim, three-year-old Dana Falkenberg, to the oldest, seventy-one-year-old John D. Yamnicky. A perimeter of paperbark maple trees and a granite-topped concrete wall define the memorial's boundary. The design incorporates a system of lighting that allows the memorial to be visited day or night, with each bench oriented to indicate whether the victim was on the airplane or in the building.

Dedication and ceremonies

The official dedication ceremony was held on September 11, 2008, the seventh anniversary of the attacks. The event was attended by President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, along with thousands of family members of the victims. Annual remembrance ceremonies are held at the site each September 11, organized in coordination with the Pentagon Memorial Fund and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. These observances typically include moments of silence, musical performances, and the reading of the victims' names. The memorial is also a site for private reflection and smaller tributes throughout the year.

Significance and impact

As the first major national memorial dedicated to the events of September 11, it set a precedent for subsequent commemorative projects like the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Its design philosophy, emphasizing individual loss over collective symbolism, has been influential in contemporary memorial architecture. The site serves as a crucial place of pilgrimage for families, survivors, military personnel, and the public to honor those lost in the attack on The Pentagon. It stands as a permanent record of the event within the landscape of Arlington National Cemetery and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Management and maintenance

The memorial is managed and maintained by the Pentagon Memorial Fund in partnership with the Department of Defense. Day-to-day upkeep, including landscaping of the maple trees and cleaning of the stainless steel and granite elements, is performed by groundskeeping staff. Security for the site is provided by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. The fund is responsible for long-term preservation, educational outreach, and organizing the annual remembrance ceremony, ensuring the memorial's integrity for future generations.

Category:Monuments and memorials in Virginia Category:September 11 memorials and monuments Category:2008 establishments in the United States