I Just Visited the Reconstructed Area of the Pentagon

[A.J.]

There was another ceremony going on there this afternoon as DEPSECDEF Paul Wolfowitz was speaking to firefighters and rescue workers who responded to the attack.

It was really something to be standing at the spot which had been a flaming, smoking, gaping wound only a year ago. The exterior of the building looks even more amazing close up -- you can't detect any difference.

At the base of the wall is the blackened stone from the original wall with "September 11, 2001" etched into it. There were a lot of people (civilians, military, emergency services) having their pictures taken next to it.

I shudder to think how much worse the tragedy at Pentagon could have been had the plane hit any other part of the building. Those previous renovations saved a lot of lives.



<IMG SRC="http://www.silentspic.com/images/sighost/pentsig.jpg">

This message was edited by AJinDC on 9-11-02 @ 3:41 PM

[DC Reed]

AJ we are lucky here in DC that it hit an area being renovanted, and that it missed its intial targets the capitol or the white house. If the plane had hit the white house, my dad woulda been dead today, he works two blocks from the white house and the plane woulda crashed/started fires in the surrounding areas.

<IMG SRC="http://www.fezwatley.4t.com/images/milk.jpg"

SINCE WHEN DID THE JAPANESE DRINK MILK!?

[Aggie]

I bet that was a moving experience AJ...I know it has been a long year...and I send all my love and respect down to D.C. for their brave efforts that day. I think it gets overshadowed by NY sometimes...but we won't forget.

Let's Roll!
<IMG SRC="http://www.silentspic.com/images/911/911sig.jpg">
'I know not what course others may take; but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!' ~Patrick Henry

[A.J.]

we are lucky here in DC that it hit an area being renovanted, and that it missed its intial targets the capitol or the white house.


Reed. First I'm glad your Dad was OK.

Second, you bring up a good point about the Capitol and White House being lucky to escape the threat of attack.

The passengers of Flight 93 who overtook the hijackers were truly heroic. Had that plane made it to DC, it would have easily destroyed either the White House or Capitol building.

Certainly, either scenario would have been devestating on a symbolic level but, in the case of the Capitol building, an entire branch of the government could have been obliterated that day. Keep in mind that the ENTIRE Capitol building is the size of ONE side (or "wedge") of the Pentagon.

<IMG SRC="http://www.silentspic.com/images/sighost/pentsig.jpg">

[DC Reed]

I dont feel like weve been overshadowed. We were lucky, only some 180 or so people. Its hard to feel bad about ourselves when NY lost nearly 3000. Its hard for me to feel sorry for myself everytime i drive past the pentagon, or visit New York now.

<IMG SRC="http://www.fezwatley.4t.com/images/milk.jpg"

SINCE WHEN DID THE JAPANESE DRINK MILK!?

[TheKnicks23]

At the base of the wall is the blackened stone from the original wall with "September 11, 2001"


I'm glad that they did that, now people years and years from now will remember what happened and remember the hereos that hepled that day and saved lives.

<IMG SRC= "http://fezwatley.4t.com/images/FINALMGSSIG.gif">
<marquee>SMACKDOWN! Fan Since day 1</marquee>
<marquee>Mario Fan Since Day 1</marquee>

[A.J.]

This is a story about a Yeoman who worked in my office.

For those who are interested, it gives a good account of what the scene inside the Pentagon was like last year:

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=3503

<IMG SRC="http://www.silentspic.com/images/sighost/pentsig.jpg">

[TheMojoPin]

I visted the scene less than a week after it happened...my friend Chuck is one of the Marine liasons to the Pentagon, and his office was about 50 yards from where the plane hit...he took my parents and I on a tour of the site, and it was just terrifying. It was just this giant, burned slice into the building. And it smelled. Can't describe it any other way than that it smelled like death.

<img src=http://www.ltrooster.homestead.com/files/themojopin.jpg>
"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[furie]

the whole thing is finished? Wow, that's an impressive bit of work.

<img src="http://tseery.homestead.com/files/surfersea.jpg" width=300 height=100>
<marquee behavior="alternate"><a href="aim:goim?screenname=furie1335&message=You_are_Number_6">IM:Furie1335
</a></marquee>

<marquee>Faith is believing what you know isn't true" Arthur C. Clarke
</marquee>

[cozmokramer]

Last time I was there was in March. AJ - has anything changed much since then? They had scaphle(sp) on back then and it was being worked on. I think Washington has been shadowed from NY , but Im not ashamed of it when it came to the attacks. Im sorry that New York City gave up so many lives and Im sure it's much tougher on you guys then it is here , but DC WAS changed.

<img src="http://www.fezwatley.4t.com/images/usa.gif">

<marquee>"Now his un-banning is officially peachy keen"-TheMojoPin
POWER! POWER! DC POWER!</marquee>
Im going to kill myself OR DIE TRYING!

[El Mudo]

yeah they did it on time and underbudget, those guys were real proud of what they did

ah...ahh...ahhh...HAKUSHI!!
Washington Caps and Oakland Raiders fan since Day 1!!
"This ain't the summer of Brock...this is all year Angle!"

[A.J.]

Last time I was there was in March. AJ - has anything changed much since then?


The exterior wall is completely finished and the E Ring (the outer most ring of offices) has been completely renovated and reoccupied. There is some minor interior work to be done in the other rings but those offices should be finished and remanned by Spring 2003.

I think they are planning to put a small memorial on the grounds near the helipad. After that, renovation work will begin on Wedge 2 of the building -- which was originally scheduled to start September 2001.

<IMG SRC="http://www.silentspic.com/images/sighost/pentsig.jpg">