Emotions ran high at the Pentagon Memorial on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. A small group of people gathered in the Pentagon Courtyard to pay tribute to the 184 people who tragically lost their lives on that fateful day.
On the morning of September 11 in 2001, 19 al-Qaida terrorists perpetrated one of the most devastating attacks on American soil since Japan's assault on Pearl Harbor in 1941. They hijacked four commercial airplanes, effectively transforming them into precision-guided missiles for their suicide mission. The North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City was the first to be struck, followed by the South Tower just sixteen minutes later. New Yorkers watched in disbelief as these iconic symbols of the city crumbled before their eyes.
Simultaneously, another plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth hijacked plane was headed for the Capitol but met its end in western Pennsylvania after brave passengers attempted to regain control of the cockpit.
The Pentagon itself has been rebuilt, and a new World Trade Center has risen from the ashes. However, the scars, both literal and figurative, remain as a constant reminder of that fateful day.
At the memorial event, Chaplain John Goodloe of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington offered a heartfelt invocation, emphasizing the need for healing, diversity, and interfaith tolerance in the face of such tragedy.
Following Chaplain Goodloe's words, Deputy Defense Director Sajeel Ahmed and Admiral Christopher Grady delivered their remarks. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks then delivered a poignant keynote address. Hicks, who vividly recalled her own experiences on that day, praised the heroism displayed by her colleagues and echoed Ahmed's message of resilience.
All the speakers conveyed a shared message of resilience, calling on all generations to maintain an ongoing dialogue about the impact of September 11 on the world. Hicks emphasized the importance of teaching young Americans, even those too young to remember the events, about how that day forever altered the course of history.
To the surviving family members, first responders, and coworkers in attendance, Hicks extended a heartfelt message of unity and remembrance. "You are not alone," she assured them. "We have not forgotten about you or those we've lost. And we never will. Thank you."
