Pentagon marks 25 years since September 11

The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that shook the nation. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, striking its western facade and causing immense structural damage. The impact claimed 184 people: 59 aboard the hijacked plane, and 125 inside the building. This was part of coordinated attacks that also struck the World Trade Center and involved a fourth plane in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost across all sites, making it the deadliest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The Pentagon Memorial, dedicated in 2008, tributes those who perished. It features 184 benches, each inscribed with a name, over reflecting pools. The benches are uniquely oriented: those for plane victims face the sky along the flight path, while those for building victims face the Pentagon's impact point, creating a powerful space for remembrance. An "Age Wall" corresponds to victim ages, from 3 to 71. The 25th anniversary prompts focus on the attacks' legacy. The National Park Service designated the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial an Affiliated Area, recognizing its national significance and preserving history. A groundbreaking ceremony for a Visitor Education Center is scheduled for September 10, 2026, to provide understanding of the events, heroism, and global impact. The attacks reshaped American society, national security, and foreign policy, leading to changes in intelligence gathering and counter-extremism strategies. Sacrifices and resilience remain a profound part of collective memory.