Thoughts on September 11th in the Pentagon

A look back at local, national and world events through the Deseret News archives.

On September 11, 1940, groundbreaking began on the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia. The massive defense complex was built at the start of World War II and is now visited by more than 30,000 workers and visitors every day.

It has also become a metonymy: It is the Pentagon.

61 years later, on September 11, 2001, the Pentagon was part of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.

On September 11, nearly 3,000 people were killed when 19 al-Qaeda hijackers took control of four passenger planes and flew two of the planes into New York's World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.

And today we remember and honor those who died in New York City, on airplanes, and at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon was the first of the three attack sites to have an official memorial. It was inaugurated on September 11, 2008, and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It stands exactly on the spot where the attack took place. The limestone on the rebuilt part of the wall is easily distinguishable from the older facade.

The design of the park is intended to make visitors aware, upon arrival, of both the individual loss of each victim and the scale and significance of the 184 deaths.

The main feature is 184 cantilevered benches, each set atop a small reflecting pool, each dedicated to one of the 184 people killed. The benches are arranged by birth year, reminding visitors that the attacks claimed lives both young and old, from three-year-old Dana Falkenberg to 71-year-old retired Navy Captain John D. Yamnicky.

“The Pentagon Memorial offers a place of reflection”

The Deseret News and other media have captured powerful images and stories of tragedy and heroism from this experience. Many Utahns were among the casualties, and many people were touched by the attacks.

Here are some articles from the Deseret News archives that focus on the Pentagon and 9/11:

“Visitors to the Pentagon still see the scars of September 11”

“Two decades later: How the experiences of September 11 strengthened the faith of these Latter-day Saints”

“A Soldier’s Story: How His Experience at the Pentagon on 9/11 Sent This Utah Man Into a Tailspin”

“Pentagon awards Purple Hearts and civilian medals for 9/11 attacks”

“9/11 LIVE: Scenes from the 9/11 anniversary”

“2 Pentagon heroes of September 11 honored”

“Was the attack on the Pentagon preventable?”

“Senior defense officials honor 9/11 victims at the Pentagon”

“Pentagon releases surveillance camera images of plane crashing into Pentagon on September 11”

“9/11 Anniversary: ​​Keeping the Memory Alive”

“Documentary gives viewers insight into the interior of the Pentagon”