Did you notice that it's spelled flyin' and not flying! That's because this was a quick spur of the moment road trip, not on an airplane! We were camped at the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge, a very friendly and hospitable lodge and the next morning, July 19, 2014, we wanted to see the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial since we had been at all the other major 9/11 sites and Lin also wanted to see the U.S. Marine Corps “Iwo Jima” Monument again which is adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. Traffic was light enough that we bravely drove across to D.C. and saw these additional monuments and memorials also. This “flyby” took 1 hour and 55 minutes, start to finish, perhaps a new world's record!!
We started at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. Since it was Saturday morning, traffic was
fairly light and parking was easy, especially when a Pentagon policeman told us
to park in a normally restricted Pentagon personnel lot closest to the
Memorial. The Memorial is very different
consisting of 184 “Memorial Units” symbolizing the 125 people killed in the
Pentagon as well as 59 victims on hijacked Amercian Airlines Flight 77 when it
crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 AM on 9/11/2001. 
Each Memorial Unit is a cantilevered stainless steel “bench”
inlaid with granite in a lighted pool of water and with the victim's name. Each
Memorial Unit is located on an age line according to the year the victim was born,
beginning with the youngest victim a child of 3 years of age and the oldest at 71
years, both on Flight 77. The age lines, stainless steel lines that completely
cross the Memorial, begin at zero years at the Memorial entrance.
The Memorial Units are positioned to distinguish Pentagon victims, where you see their name and the Pentagon in the same view. Flight 77 victims are oriented where you see their name and the direction of the plane's approach in the same view. Hopefully, our photographs make this easier to understand.
Eighty-five white crape myrtle trees are planted throughout the Memorial units. The Age Wall on the perimeter “grows” one inch per year in height as you move through the Memorial from the youngest victim at 3 years and 3” in height to the oldest victim at 71 years and 71” in height. The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial is open 24/7/365 and was dedicated on 9/11/2008.
A large wall near the entrance contains the names and dates of each victim and their photographs and biographies are online at the website of the Memorial which is also the source for most of this text.
It's unfortunate that a descriptive tablet is not located at
the entrance to the Memorial to decipher the unusual symbolism built into the
Memorial. Nevertheless, it's a very
impressive site to visit, especially since the area of the Pentagon damaged on
9/11 (but rebuilt within a year) is directly adjacent to the Memorial. It is beyond understanding why the
terrorists did what they did on 9/11 in all 3 locations with such a tragic cost
in innocent American lives.
Celebrates 23 February 1945 when U.S. Marines raised the flag
on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima after 4 days of very heavy combat. Sculpted from Associated Press photographer Joe
Rosenthal's famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of the flag raising and
dedicated to all Marines who have given their life for their country since 10
November 1775!
Netherlands Carillion
The impressive Netherlands Carillion is adjacent to both the
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. It expresses the gratitude of the Dutch
people for American aid received during and after World War II. It has 50 bells from 8” to 6' 9” in diameter
hanging in a 127' high tower. Automated
concerts are played Monday-Saturday at noon and 6 PM and Sunday at noon. Live summer concerts are played each Saturday
in June, July and August from 6-8 PM.
Arlington National Cemetery
On the way out of the Pentagon Memorial, we passed Section 69
of Arlington National Cemetery with its neatly aligned white military grave
markers. The Cemetery is celebrating its
150th Anniversary in 2014, since the Army began burials here before
the end of the Civil War and continuously since then. There are approximately 250,000 burials here
on 624 acres including 2 U.S. Presidents, Wm. Taft and John F. Kennedy, General
Hap Arnold, Admiral Bull Halsey, General of the Army Omar Bradley, General
“Blackjack” Pershing, Admiral Hyman Rickover and many more. Signs here request Silence and Respect.”
Washington Monument
This 555' marble obelisk tower over Washington, D.C. At one time it was the tallest structure in
the world, but now it is the tallest stone structure in the world. It was built to honor the first U.S. President,
George Washington. “First in War, First in Peace and First in the Hearts of his
Countrymen!” Construction began in 1848 but was suspended for many years, It was finally completed in 1884. On our trip 2 years ago, it was enshrouded
while being repaired from serious earthquake damage in 2011. The monument was reopened in May 2014 and the
crowds are back!
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The Memorial structure was completed in 1943 but the 19 foot
tall bronze statue of Jefferson wasn't installed until 1947. Jefferson was the author of the Declaration
of Independence and one of the visionary founders of the United States.
Excerpts from his famous speeches line the interior walls.
Lincoln Memorial
“Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United
States, sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength
and wisdom. In this temple, as in the
hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln
in enshrined forever.” Dedicated in 1922
and located on the National Mall across from the Washington Monument. --from National Park Service website
National World War II Memorial
Honors 16 million who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, more
than 400,000 who died and all who supported the war effort from home during World
War II. Opened April 2004 and now has
more than four million visits annually!
White House
The official residence and principal workplace of the
President of the United States since the year 1800 located at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue.
Arlington Memorial Bridge
Arlington Memorial Bridge, which opened in 1932, is one of
the major Potomac River crossings. We think it’s the most beautiful bridge as well. The heroic
mounted statues at both ends of the bridge depict valor and sacrifice.
 |
| Driving over the bridge to Arlington Cemetery, Arlington House or Custis-Lee House is visible. Robert E.Lee lived here before the Civil War. |
U.S. Institute of Peace
This beautiful building is a little-known “independent
non-partisan institution established and funded by Congress to increase the
nation's capacity to manage international conflict without violence.” Its mission is “to prevent, mitigate and
resolve violent conflicts around the world by engaging directly in conflict
zones and providing analysis, education and resources to those working for
peace.”
--from USIP website
Thank you for flyin' Hines Airlines and enjoy your day!
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