Pentagon Memorial Opens to Public

The sun rises over the main stage before the start of the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony Sept. 11 at Alexandria, Va. The national memorial is the first to be dedicated to those killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The site contains 184 inscribed memorial units honoring the 59 people aboard American Airlines Flight 77 and the 125 in the building who lost their lives that day. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Adam Stump) by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AFPN) -- The Pentagon Memorial was dedicated and opened to the public in a solemn ceremony before thousands of servicemembers and civilians on September 11 in Alexandria, Virginia. The memorial honors the 184 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks here seven years ago when Flight 77 was flown into the south side of the Pentagon. The ceremony featured speeches from the president, secretary of Defense and other senior officials. In addition, the Air Force Band and other performers provided music for the event. The music was beautiful and very moving, said Airman 1st Class Brittany Carrington, whod been invited to the ceremony while on a tour here earlier in the week. We were visiting the (Secretary of the Air Forces) office and the Pentagon first sergeant came in and asked if we wanted to go. It was a chance of a lifetime, and an opportunity Ill never forget. Its important for us to have a memorial here for those people so we never forget them, said Airman Carrington, who works in the base information transfer center at the 744th Communication Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Chief Master Sgt. Gerard Cappello, the 3rd Wing command chief at Elemendorf AFB, Alaska, happened to be in town and was also invited to the ceremony. Hopefully people see this memorial and realize its a true sign that our nations armed forces are hard at work to go after the people who committed this tragedy, the chief said. For those who lost family and friends here, I hope it helps them heal. For more information about the memorial, visit www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2008/0908_dedication/index.html. The official party watches as the first inscribed memorial unit is unveiled at the Pentagon Memorial Sept. 11 in Alexandria, Va. The national memorial is the first to be dedicated to those killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The site contains 184 inscribed memorial units honoring the 59 people aboard American Airlines Flight 77 and the 125 in the building who lost their lives that day. President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stand as the national anthem plays at the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony Sept. 11 at Alexandria, Va.