Photo Essays
9/11 Pentagon Memorial Ceremony
The sun begins to rise over the main stage before the start of the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. 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. The Sept. 11, 2008 dawn breaks over the new Pentagon Memorial to be dedicated today in a ceremony attended by President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Former Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld as well as the senior leadership of the armed forces. The memorial, the first of three national memorials to the 9/11 victims to be completed, contains 184 benches in honor of those who died.The sun rises over 184 benches at the new Pentagon Memorial honoring those who were killed in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon seven years ago, Sept. 11, 2008. The benches will be unveiled at the dedication ceremony today. A member of the United States Air Force Band practices before the start of the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. 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. The audience gathers before the start of the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. 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. First lady Laura Bush arrives at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. The United States Naval Academy Chorus performs to open the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008.The United States Air Force Band performs to open the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony Sept. 11, 2008.The J.W. Alvey Elementary School Singing Sunrays perform to open the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. The national memorial is the first to be dedicated to those killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.The United States Air Force Band performs to open the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008.Audience members watch the dedication of the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008. First responders stand atop the Pentagon during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008, at the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 59 people aboard the flight and 125 in the building. First responders are the firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers who were first on the scene that day. During ceremonies dedicating the Pentagon Memorial, representatives of the local police and firefighting units, who were the first responders to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, stand at the top of a large American flag, just as they stood seven years ago in the wake of the attack when President George W. Bush visited the site to see the destruction for himself. A U.S. sailor rings the bell as the name of each person lost at the Pentagon is read during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. The national memorial consists of 184 inscribed memorial units honoring the 59 people aboard American Airlines Flight 77 and the 125 in the building who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001.A woman displays her tatoo of a loved one during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony. Sept. 11, 2008.Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England delivers the opening remarks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008.From left, former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, current Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, President George W. Bush and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen arrive at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. President George W. Bush and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen render honors during the national anthem at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Members of a joint service honor guard prepare to raise the flag during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008.Members of a joint service honor guard carry a wreath toward the Pentagon Memorial Sept. 11, 2008, during its dedication ceremony. The memorial consists of 184 inscribed memorial units honoring the 59 people aboard American Airlines Flight 77 and the 125 in the Pentagon who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001. Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; American Airlines flight attendant Deborah Maitland-Rowland; and Lt. David Webster, a Pentagon Force Protection Agency officer, place a wreath at the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008, during its dedication ceremony.The official party and audience sing "God Bless America" at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Members of a joint service honor guard prepare to raise the flag during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway salutes as the national anthem plays during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. U.S. Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force, and other distinguished guests attend the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony Sept. 11, 2008. 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.Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld speaks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen speaks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen speaks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Gates is hosting the ceremony dedicating the national memorial to those killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.President George W. Bush speaks at the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Barry C. Black, left, the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, the U.S. Army chief of chaplains, take their places on the dais at the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony Sept. 11, 2008. 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. One hundred eighty-four joint service troops stand ready to unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008, as the United States Air Force Band plays "Who Are the Brave." 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. One hundred eighty-four joint service troops stand ready to unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008. A soldier, one of 184 joint service troops, prepares to unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008.One hundred eighty-four joint service troops unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008.Stephanie Dunn Simone and her daughter, Alice Dunn, bow thier heads during the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. Dunn Simone's husband, Navy Cmdr. Pat Dunn, was killed during the attack. On Sept. 11, 2008, 184 military personnel stand ready to remove the covers on the Pentagon Memorial benches - each representing an individual killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon seven years ago.Joint service troops unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008, as the United States Air Force Band plays "Who Are the Brave." The official party watches as the first inscribed memorial unit is unveiled at the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008. The official party walks back carrying a memorial cover after watching 184 joint service troops unveil the Pentagon Memorial, Sept. 11, 2008.A couple sits on one of the 184 benches that make up the new Pentagon Memorial after its dedication, Sept. 11, 2008. Each bench represents a life that was lost in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon seven years ago.
The sun begins to rise over the main stage before the start of the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2008. 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 Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Adam Stump