thedrifter
09-11-06, 07:59 AM
Posted on Mon, Sep. 11, 2006
Pentagon’s humbled visitors tour crash site, recall victims
By Kevin Freking
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A solemn marker outside the Pentagon conveys a simple message: "We will never forget."
Those words remain true, judging by the lines of people - from all corners of the country, and around the globe - who took time on a sun-splashed weekend to honor the 184 people who perished when a hijacked jetliner slammed into this symbol of U.S. military might.
"We are here for a happy occasion. But we have to remember the sad occasions in our country's history also," said Pam Gambacorta of Buffalo, who was in town for a wedding. She was one of the first in line for the walk-in tours, only the second available to the public since the Sept. 11 attacks.
More than 1,000 people took the tour that began outside the building, where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the side, and continued inside to a chapel and memorial. Reconstruction has made the impact point impossible to detect.
Ethan and Debbie Fleischman of Cincinnati made the memorial tour their first stop in Washington. While it lasted only about 15 minutes, they said they came away with lasting memories of the building and of the others who came to pay tribute.
"They didn't forget their country," Ethan said, nodding toward the crowd. "It really touches the heart."
If not for the military guides pointing to where the plane struck, few visitors would have known exactly where it hit. The rebuilt wall includes just a couple of vivid reminders of that day. The first is a stone charred by burning jet fuel that reads "September 11, 2001."
About 50 feet to the left of the stone, between the second and third floors, is where the hijacked jet struck. Just to the right of the stone is a majestic American flag that resembles the one that firefighters draped over the southwest wall during rescue efforts.
Inside the building is a simple memorial room and chapel. Black panels in the room contain the names of all who died in the attack. The words "America's Heroes" separate the panels.
The adjacent chapel contains stained-glass windows, and 184 rose chips encircling the flag, an eagle and the Pentagon. The rose chips represent each victim of the attack.
Among those on the tour was Vietnam War veteran Bob Oldham of Lawrence, Ind., who was in town for a reunion. Asked why he was compelled to visit the memorial, he pointed to his ring, which commemorates his service in the Marines.
"It's kind of a brotherhood issue, really," he said.
Also taking in the site was a group of 25 to 30 people protesting the war in Iraq. Geoffrey Millard, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said the Bush administration uses the Sept. 11 attacks to justify the war. The group wanted to show that there are people who disagree.
"9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq," Millard said.
Yesterday, thousands of people gathered to walk from the National Mall to the Pentagon, where streaks of light were projected into the night sky to honor the victims of Sept. 11.
The Freedom Walk, sponsored by the Defense Department, was one of more than 120 walks organized in cities in all 50 states.
In Washington, the walk was led by students and faculty at three District of Columbia elementary schools who lost six classmates and teachers on Sept. 11. The six were on their way to a field trip when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
"It's an emotional time, but it's also a good time because when you remember people, you can keep them alive in your hearts," said Joyce Grimes, the principal of Ketcham Elementary School, which lost 11-year-old sixth grader Rodney Dickens and his teacher, James Debeuneure, 58.
About 400 family members of the victims, including those working at the Pentagon, also participated in the walk.
Ellie
Pentagon’s humbled visitors tour crash site, recall victims
By Kevin Freking
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A solemn marker outside the Pentagon conveys a simple message: "We will never forget."
Those words remain true, judging by the lines of people - from all corners of the country, and around the globe - who took time on a sun-splashed weekend to honor the 184 people who perished when a hijacked jetliner slammed into this symbol of U.S. military might.
"We are here for a happy occasion. But we have to remember the sad occasions in our country's history also," said Pam Gambacorta of Buffalo, who was in town for a wedding. She was one of the first in line for the walk-in tours, only the second available to the public since the Sept. 11 attacks.
More than 1,000 people took the tour that began outside the building, where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the side, and continued inside to a chapel and memorial. Reconstruction has made the impact point impossible to detect.
Ethan and Debbie Fleischman of Cincinnati made the memorial tour their first stop in Washington. While it lasted only about 15 minutes, they said they came away with lasting memories of the building and of the others who came to pay tribute.
"They didn't forget their country," Ethan said, nodding toward the crowd. "It really touches the heart."
If not for the military guides pointing to where the plane struck, few visitors would have known exactly where it hit. The rebuilt wall includes just a couple of vivid reminders of that day. The first is a stone charred by burning jet fuel that reads "September 11, 2001."
About 50 feet to the left of the stone, between the second and third floors, is where the hijacked jet struck. Just to the right of the stone is a majestic American flag that resembles the one that firefighters draped over the southwest wall during rescue efforts.
Inside the building is a simple memorial room and chapel. Black panels in the room contain the names of all who died in the attack. The words "America's Heroes" separate the panels.
The adjacent chapel contains stained-glass windows, and 184 rose chips encircling the flag, an eagle and the Pentagon. The rose chips represent each victim of the attack.
Among those on the tour was Vietnam War veteran Bob Oldham of Lawrence, Ind., who was in town for a reunion. Asked why he was compelled to visit the memorial, he pointed to his ring, which commemorates his service in the Marines.
"It's kind of a brotherhood issue, really," he said.
Also taking in the site was a group of 25 to 30 people protesting the war in Iraq. Geoffrey Millard, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said the Bush administration uses the Sept. 11 attacks to justify the war. The group wanted to show that there are people who disagree.
"9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq," Millard said.
Yesterday, thousands of people gathered to walk from the National Mall to the Pentagon, where streaks of light were projected into the night sky to honor the victims of Sept. 11.
The Freedom Walk, sponsored by the Defense Department, was one of more than 120 walks organized in cities in all 50 states.
In Washington, the walk was led by students and faculty at three District of Columbia elementary schools who lost six classmates and teachers on Sept. 11. The six were on their way to a field trip when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
"It's an emotional time, but it's also a good time because when you remember people, you can keep them alive in your hearts," said Joyce Grimes, the principal of Ketcham Elementary School, which lost 11-year-old sixth grader Rodney Dickens and his teacher, James Debeuneure, 58.
About 400 family members of the victims, including those working at the Pentagon, also participated in the walk.
Ellie