The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

After graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel Institute of Technology, Chuck began his federal service career as an accountant with the Army Audit Agency. He was commissioned and served on active duty with the Army in Belgium, and then in Holland. Upon his return to the United States, Chuck continued his civilian career with the Army. He received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and the U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service. He joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1981 as an accountant, and went on to become DIA’s senior financial resources expert as a Defense Intelligence Senior Level appointee. Chuck received the Director’s Award for Meritorious Service and the Director’s Award for Exceptional Service. He provided expert counsel to senior leadership and personal mentoring to many DIA employees.

Marjorie grew up on a dairy farm in Pine Mountain, Georgia. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and earned her Bachelor’s degree with honors in Textile Chemistry at Auburn University, as well as her Master’s degree in Textile Science. She was an Army budget analyst at the Pentagon. Marjorie was a person with a deep faith in God and a family whom she loved, admired and respected, and for whom she felt deep gratitude. She was a person who never complained and freely gave of her time to ensure that her husband and daughters were successful.

John was born in New York and went to Washington in the 1980s to study at George Washington University, then earned a Master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University. Out of college, John was hired as an engineer at the Naval Research Lab; he had worked 11 years at XonTech, a research and development firm involved in defense issues.

David, a talented pianist, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Music Composition. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Illinois University. He was commissioned through Army ROTC in 1978, serving in Sharonville, Ohio, before going to South Korea in 1979 as an ambulance platoon leader. He later served in Denver; Aurora, Colorado; St. Louis; and at Fort Monroe, Virginia. David was assigned in May 2001 as the personnel policy integrator in the deputy chief of staff’s office, working at the highest level of Army personnel policy after a distinguished career with the Army Reserve. He focused on a number of initiatives that affect the readiness of the Army Reserve.

Robert graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 1985 with degrees in both French and Journalism. He received his commission in 1986 and held a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from Old Dominion University and received a Naval War College diploma for completion of the Joint Professional Military Education program. Before being posted to the Pentagon, Robert was executive officer of the USS Arthur W. Radford, a 9,000-ton destroyer. That assignment followed tours aboard the USS Scott and the USS Yarnell. Robert carried on a Navy tradition deeply embedded in his family, as his father and two brothers also served in the Navy.

Janice entered the federal government workforce as a check control officer with the Army Finance Office in Switzingen, Germany, then as an accountant with the European Army Accounting Office in Leiman, Germany. In 1988, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Maryland in College Park. This great achievement was instrumental in helping her to acquire a budget officer position with Resource Services Washington of the Office of Assistant Administration in the Pentagon. Janice was promoted in June 2001 as a budget team leader with Resource Services Washington. She was a member of Blacks in Government, 5-Star Toastmasters Club, Association of Government Accountants, and the Burke-Fairfax Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.

Over the course of a 20-year Army career, Michael served in South Korea and Italy, advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1996, as a civilian, he became director of the Army’s Information Management Support Center at the Pentagon. A University of Oregon graduate; he was an ardent fan of the Ducks and an avid golfer. Friends and family said Selves was as skillful with jokes as he was with a putter, and he developed close friendships wherever he went.

Marian was a congressional affairs contact officer for the Army. She had worked at the Pentagon for 15 years. She met her high school sweetheart in Greenville, North Carolina, and later eloped. He enlisted in the Army, and they traveled the world, raising their daughter. She indulged her love of all things outdoors, including growing tomatoes, flowers and exotic shrubs at their Stafford County home.

Dan attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He attended Aviation Officer School in Pensacola, Florida, and received his commission as an ensign in 1985. After graduating from the Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, he reported to VAQ-136 onboard USS Midway. He transitioned to the Navy Reserve as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department in the Philippines. Dan was recalled to active duty in November 1994. In August 2000, he was selected as the officer in charge of the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot. There, he was responsible for the provision of current intelligence support to the Navy Secretariat, Chief of Naval Operations staff, and the Director of Naval Intelligence. In December 2000, he was promoted to his final rank of commander.

There was nothing Antionette "Toni" Sherman loved more than ending her day with an impromptu fishing trip. After a long day crunching numbers in the Pentagon, Toni would pick up her foster son and fishing gear and head to her favorite spot. A federal employee since 1983, Toni was working as an Army budget analyst when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. She was one of the first victims to be airlifted to a hospital. She died of her injuries at Washington Hospital Center's burn unit.

Diane was as a passenger on Flight 77, along with her beloved husband of 19 years, George W. Simmons. She was a very loving wife, grandmother, mother, sister, aunt and friend who always seemed to know when to give a big hug, kind word or how to make a loved one feel special. Diane loved to cook and some of the best meals at “Chez Nana” were created while she was experimenting. Diane will always be remembered for her love of family and friends.

Don was born and raised in Illinois and served in the Army from 1964 to 1966. He met his wife, Peggy, while assigned to Fort Myer, Virginia, and they were married in 1968. His innate honesty, love of God and generous spirit made him a friend to everyone. He was an avid fisherman, inventor and artist. He was very interested in Republican politics and was a true patriot.

George was as a passenger on Flight 77, along with his beloved wife of 19 years, Diane. George retired from Xerox Corp., where he worked for 32 years as a Manager of Sales Training; he spent his remaining years at the training center in Leesburg, Virginia. George was an avid golfer, took pride in his martini-making skills, was a member of the No Bats Baseball Club, and loved to travel, sending postcards from all over the world.

Cheryle was 15-year civil service employee, mother of four children, and beloved wife. Her dedication to her job and her family best describes her purpose in life. Cheryle was the third of 13 children, born in Currie, Minnesota. She was well loved by her family and all who knew her for her many kind acts. Her spirit of giving will not be forgotten.

Gregg Smallwood served 19 years in the Navy, reaching the rank of chief petty officer in 2000 in his Pentagon post at the Office of the Chief Information Systems Technician. His career in the United States Navy included duty stations at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas; Western Pacific Guam, USS Reasoner; Naval Computer Telecommunications Station San Diego, California; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Naval Computer Telecommunications Station, Diego Garcia; USS Harry W. Hill; and Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Gary Smith was serving as the Chief of Army Retirement Services when the plane crashed into the Pentagon. He began his military career in 1968 with an ROTC commission from Creighton University. His first command assignment was as company commander/Platoon leader with the 560th Signal Battalion in Vicenza, Italy. He then served as a communications officer with the 546th Infantry and as an assistant S-3 and S-4 of the 523rd Signal Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division deployed at Chu-Lai in South Vietnam. From September 1971 through July 1974, he served as aide-de-camp and training officer with the Test and Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Then he was assigned as executive officer and adjutant at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After an assignment as equal opportunity officer with the Military District of Washington, he went overseas once more to serve as G-1 and adjutant general with the Allied Forces Central Europe Reserve Corps. Returning to Washington in the summer of 1984, he served in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Alcohol and Drug Policy Branch, Headquarters Department of the Army. From 1989 until his active duty military retirement in 1991, he served as Chief, Retired and Veterans Affairs, and later as Deputy Director and Director, Army Family Support Directorate of the Army Community and Family Support Center. Gary earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

Mari-Rae Sopper was on her way to the University of California at Santa Barbara to the job of her dreams: women’s gymnastics coach. She had accepted the post in August, knowing that the school intended to phase out the team after the season. But that didn’t deter the tenacious 5-foot-2 gymnast and lawyer. She planned to persuade the school to keep the team alive. Sopper earned a law degree from the Denver University School of Law while working as an assistant coach at the Colorado Gymnastics Institute. In 1996, she moved to Washington, where she joined the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a lieutenant, defending sailors in their appeals of criminal cases for four years.

Robert was executive vice president at Lazare Kaplan International in New York, a worldwide diamond manufacturer. Mr. Speisman had worked at Lazare Kaplan for 17 years and was also a member of its board. He was married to a daughter of Lazare Kaplan's chairman, Maurice Tempelsman. Mr. Speisman was also chairman of the board of trustees of the American Gem Society.

Patricia was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and attended McDonell High School. She pursued a degree in Theater at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire that she completed at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1983. She traveled to Germany a year later to work as an actress and director at U.S. Army base theaters in Heidelberg and Bamberg. Patricia traveled extensively across Europe; she enjoyed playing tour guide during the many visits from family and friends. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Education while in Germany. Patricia and her family moved back to the United States in 2000, and she started work at the Pentagon. Patricia was working on her doctorate degree in Education and was active with local schools.

Edna Stephens moved to Washington, D.C., shortly after she graduated from high school and began her professional career working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, for the last 34 years she worked for the Army and the Defense Department with various job titles in various locations at the Pentagon. Her last assignment was in the Resource Management Office, where she worked as a budget analyst. Edna loved her family, her church and her friends, but she gave her heart and soul to God.

Norma loved serving the community through her job as a clinical psychologist and through her church, but she also loved to travel. She was valedictorian of her class at Carnegie Mellon University, held a Master’s degree from Temple University, and a Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. The vivacious, petite woman was known for her interest in community service, particularly through the Blessed Sacrament Catholic community and her daughters’ schools.

Sergeant Major Strickland served as the senior enlisted advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Larry had over 29 years of service and was scheduled to retire upon completion of 30 years of service. He attended the University of Washington for three years before enlisting in the Army in May 1972. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree while in the Army from Regents College of New York. He served in assignments in all aspects of personnel administration.