My husband & I talked many times about visiting the Pentagon Memorial, but I just couldn’t do it. For three years, the benches stood, honoring those who perished on that awful day. Finally, on an overcast, drizzly Labor Day afternoon & then, on a quiet September 11th evening, I did it. I faced my fears & emotions & honored those who were lost ten years ago.
A visit to the Pentagon Memorial is unlike a visit to any other memorial park I’ve ever been to. During the day, it feels militaristic. It’s very, well, beige. Security around the Pentagon is understandably tight, & photography is tightly restricted to the area of the memorial. As the trees grow in, the site will become more beautiful in daylight.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
But visiting at night is a whole different story. The 184 benches, one for each person who perished, facing either toward or away from the building depending on whether the victim was on the plane or in the Pentagon, seemingly glow & float in space. The sound of the pools of water under each bench drowns out the nearby highway traffic.Gravel, which makes up the majority of the ground cover, crunches under your feet, as the Pentagon eerily glows in the background. It’s almost impossible to read the names on each bench, as the light is so dim, but it’s impossible not to walk around & run your fingers over the letters.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
If you go… – After two visits there, I still haven’t really figured out the parking situation. When we have been there, we have been able to park in the parking lot closest to the memorial on the Pentagon grounds (after asking a Pentagon Police Officer for permission); however, those visits occurred on a holiday & a weekend. According to the web site, parking is available in the Hayes Street Lot (which will be quite a walk), with handicapped parking always available in the lot closest to the memorial. Honestly, your best bet might be just to take Metro, but you should know that you have to walk around half the building from the station.
– As I mentioned above, photography is limited to only the area within the memorial.
– There is a guided audio tour, which you can listen to on your cell phone. The number is posted at the memorial’s entrance. There are also docents stationed at the memorial during certain hours to answer questions.
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