The Pentagon: September 11, 2001 and the Legacy of Resilience

The Attack: 9:37 AM

At 9:37 AM on September 11, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and flown into the western side of the Pentagon at over 500 miles per hour. The impact penetrated three of the building's five concentric rings (Rings E, D, and C).

• Immediate Aftermath: The crash ignited a massive fire fueled by jet aviation fuel, leading to the partial collapse of the building's outer rings in the affected wedge.
• Acts of Heroism: In the immediate wake of the impact, military and civilian personnel inside the Pentagon risked their own lives to pull colleagues from the burning, smoke-filled corridors. First responders from Arlington County, Washington D.C., and surrounding jurisdictions fought the intense blaze for days.
• The Toll: The attack claimed 184 lives—59 innocent passengers and crew aboard Flight 77, and 125 military and civilian personnel working inside the building.

Project Phoenix: Rebuilding the Pentagon

The determination to rebuild was immediate. The effort to reconstruct the damaged wedge of the Pentagon was dubbed Project Phoenix, reflecting the mythic bird rising from the ashes.

• The September 11, 2002 Goal: The ambitious goal was to have the outermost ring (Ring E) rebuilt and reoccupied by exactly one year after the attack.
• 24/7 Effort: Construction crews, architects, and engineers worked around the clock, removing 400,000 tons of debris and rapidly laying the groundwork for the new structure.
• Mission Accomplished: On September 11, 2002, the rebuilt section was dedicated, and Pentagon personnel returned to their offices in the exact area where the plane had struck, fulfilling the promise of Project Phoenix on schedule.

The Pentagon Memorial Chapel & Stained Glass Window

As part of the rebuilding effort, a permanent place of reflection and prayer was established inside the Pentagon, directly at the point of impact.

• The Chapel Dedication: The Pentagon Memorial Chapel was consecrated and opened in 2002. It serves as a non-denominational sanctuary for Pentagon employees to seek quiet reflection and remember those who perished.
• The "United in Memory" Stained Glass Window: The chapel features a stunning, custom-designed stained glass window. Designed by the unit responsible for the Pentagon's renovation, the window depicts an American eagle, the Pentagon building, and a field of stars. It incorporates the phrase "United in Memory" and the date of the attack, glowing with natural light that filters through the rebuilt walls of the facility.

The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

Dedicated on September 11, 2008, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is an outdoor, permanent memorial located just outside the western facade of the building, where the flight path intersected the structure.

• The Benches: The memorial consists of 184 illuminated, stainless-steel benches (or "Memorial Units")—one for each victim.
• Design Significance: The benches are arranged by the victims' ages, ranging from 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg to 71-year-old John Yamnicky Sr. Each bench hovers over a shallow, lighted pool of flowing water.
• Directional Meaning: The benches for the victims aboard Flight 77 face the direction of the plane's approach, while the benches for the victims inside the Pentagon face the building itself.

Annual Observances & Legacy

The Pentagon continues to honor the fallen with solemn annual traditions that reaffirm the commitment of the armed forces.

• The American Flag unfurling: Every year at sunrise on September 11th, a massive American flag is unfurled over the side of the Pentagon at the exact location of the impact, recreating the iconic image of resilience from the days following the attack.
• Wreath-Laying Ceremony: The President or Secretary of Defense traditionally hosts an observance ceremony and wreath-laying at the Memorial to honor the victims and their families.