First Trip to the Pentagon (6/10)

We had to laugh as we did our Pentagon trip. We met up with Jen's friend, Loretta, who was going to take us inside. We went through our security part. She went through her's only to find out her badge expired on the 30th of September and it was promptly confiscated. We called another friend, Gary, who actually worked inside the building. While we waited to hear from him, we went out to the Memorial Garden which is absolutely incredible.

One hundred eighty four lives were lost when the plane hit into the Pentagon. Each individual got their own unit inscribed with their name. The units are arranged by age (oldest to youngest) and if they were on the plane the unit faces. If they were on the plane, the "bench" faces the Pentagon (so that when you look at the name you see it and the sky). If they were killed in the Pentagon the "bench" faces away from the building (so when you look at the name you see it and the Pentagon). Each on the units is aligned with a year, indicating the year the individual was born. The youngest was 3 years old and the oldest was 71. Inscriptions. I'll do close up later so you can read what they say.

Jen next to her year (1970).

The black brick is from where the plane actually hit. This window goes into the Memorial Chapel inside the Pentagon.

Jen and I pausing for a picture moment.

Me next to my year (1975).

Gary got our message just as we were getting ready to get back on the Metro. He took us inside so we got to see the Memorial Chapel. It really was very unique and beautiful. Prior to the plane hitting, there wasn't a chapel or anything like that anywhere in the Pentagon. I did not know that the Pentagon is actually five building, kind of like the stacking blocks you play with as a little kid. It's currently under renovation. When the plane hit, they were just getting ready to move people back in, otherwise the number would have been a lot more.

Website: www.PentagonMemorial.net