9/11/01 Remembered

The blackened limestone block in the rebuilt wall of the Pentagon with the simple inscription September 11, 2001 is still there. As I was a year ago I was at the Pentagon again this past Sunday. I walked there from Arlington Cemetery with thousands of patriots who gave up their Sunday morning to remember what happened at the Pentagon on 9/11/01 and in the world since, and participate in the America Supports You fourth annual Freedom Walk.

I have participated in each of the four annual Freedom Walks. The stone and its inscription still recalls that at 9:37 a.m., September 11, 2001 , what began as American Airlines flight 77 from Dulles airport to Los Angeles ended in a terrorist controlled deliberate crash into the the west wall of the Pentagon, incinerating everyone on board, and murdering 125 inside the building. Following the attack, rescue workers and military personnel draped a very large flag from the roof of that damaged western wall. They demonstrated that rather than being defeated they were resolved to achieve Victory over the enemy who had done this.

The flag was still there Sunday. It flies above the new Memorial chapel. It flies above the 184 benches commemorating each of the lost to be dedicated today.

Life has changed for many in America since that fateful day six years ago. It has changed for my family as well. We watched and mourned that day and made resolution. Because of those events I have two sons, who were civilians that day, on active duty in the Army. One son-in-law, already on active duty reenlisted and serves still. Another is currently taking his turn in Iraq. My children are continuing to make the sacrifices I am too old to make myself. I support them and the brave men and women who stand side by side with them. I make my annual pilgrimage and write, that the 184 lost at the Pentagon and all those others are not forgotten.