9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon
The Pentagon Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to the 184 people who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. It was opened to the public on the 7th anniversary of the attacks, on September 11, 2008. The memorial consists of a landscaped park with 184 benches, each dedicated to a victim. The memorial also includes a Visitor Education Center, which opened on September 11, 2011.
Design of the Memorial
The memorial was designed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman of the Kaseman Beckman Advanced Strategies Design Team. It is located on the Pentagon grounds, adjacent to the Pentagon building and the Navy Annex. The memorial consists of 184 benches arranged in a semicircle around a sunken area with a shallow pool of water. The benches are arranged in eight rows of nine benches, with a central walkway. Each bench is inscribed with the name of a victim, their age, and the date of the attack.
The benches are constructed of bronze and stainless steel, and are placed on a concrete platform. The benches are arranged to reflect the ages of the victims, with the oldest victim, John D. Yamnicky, Sr., placed at the center of the memorial. The benches are illuminated at night by an LED lighting system, which is controlled by a computer. The pool of water is illuminated by an LED light at its center. The memorial also includes a Visitor Education Center, which is located in a building adjacent to the memorial.
Visitor Education Center
The Visitor Education Center is located in a building adjacent to the memorial. It contains a museum with interactive exhibits about the events of 9/11, as well as the stories of the victims. The Center also offers educational programs for students, teachers, and other visitors. The Center is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday.
Symbolism of the Memorial
The memorial is designed to honor the victims of the attacks and to serve as a reminder of the tragedy. The design of the memorial is meant to evoke the Pentagon’s shape and the memorial’s location on the Pentagon grounds. The benches are arranged in a semicircle to represent the unity of the victims, and the central walkway symbolizes the path of the hijacked planes. The pool of water is meant to represent the loss of life in the attacks, and the lighting system is meant to represent the eternal flame of remembrance.
Conclusion
The 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon is a powerful reminder of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. It honors the victims of the attacks and serves as a reminder of the loss of life. The memorial’s design is symbolic of the Pentagon’s shape and its location on the Pentagon grounds, and the lighting system is a reminder of the eternal flame of remembrance. The Visitor Education Center provides educational programs and interactive exhibits about the events of 9/11 and the stories of the victims.