The DC Traveler

The Pentagon’s new 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on the 7th anniversary of the September 11th attack and crash of American Airlines Flight 77.

Located on the western edge of the Pentagon’s grounds, just across the Potomac River from the National Mall in Washington, DC, the site is open 24 hours-a-day to the public, it is adjacent to the original impact spot.

The 184 victims of the tragedy (59 victims on the plane and 125 died inside the Pentagon) are commemorated by a "memorial unit" or steel bench, one  for each person killed. 

A gray concrete retaining wall around the memorial park ranges from 3 inches tall, representing the youngest victim, Dana Falkenberg, who was just three years old, to a height of 71 inches tall, for the oldest victim (71 years), John D. Yamnicky Sr., a former Navy pilot and veteran of two wars.

The direction of the bench, signifies if the victim was a passenger or in the Pentagon at the time of the crash.

At night, the benches are illuminated, as is the small water pool below each one.

The two-acre site was originally a grassy field, sued as a helicopter landing field.

The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
The Pentagon
Arlington, VA 22202   (map it)

Dates and Times - Open daily, 24-hours,

Tickets – None required - FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon, Blue and Yellow lines, then a ¼ mile walk.

Parking – There is no public parking at the Pentagon. Paid parking is available at the public lot at Pentagon City Mall, a 10-minute walk.  There is no shuttle from the Mall.

Images – Flickr Pentagon 9/11 memorial benches, Single Bench

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