Pentagon Visit

Today, as part of my duties, I drove to the Pentagon. My unit's Command Sergeant Major, about six Sergeants Major, Two First Sergeants, and several Master Sergeants, and my NCO were going to take a tour. There may have also been a Partride in a pear tree, somewhere.

My day started at 0400, with being at work by 0500. Had the van set for full VIP service, and was ready to go. We finally departed around 0545 for the drive to DC.

Nothing like arriving in DC during rush-hour.

And there's also the joy of blissfully cruising the (largely empty) HOV lanes while the regular interstate sits in gridlock. (Hint: Use carpools or Metro... you'll get to work sooner.)

We get to the Pentagon, make our way through, and wait for our tour. A nice PFC from the Old Guard came and led us on our short tour. He was resplendent in his Dress Blues. I found it amusing that he stuck with his script insisting we call him by his first name. Right.

We started off at the Medal of Honor room. It included the recently added name of LT Michael Murphy, USN. There are both too many names... and too few.

We were led through several different themed corridors... until we reached a very poignant destination.

The America's Heroes Memorial. It's set in the Pentagon at the spot where American Airlines 77 slammed into the building. The very spot. And when you look out through the window there, you can see the USAF Memorial. One of the interesting facets of that memorial is that the center spire is aligned along the flight path of flight 77. You look out the window and can see the evocative path of the plane's approach. Chilling. Stunning. And, for me, for whom the USAF Memorial has always symbolized the soaring of flight and of the Thunderbirds, it was a complete reversal.

From there, we were led along an interior corridor and stopped after a good walk. The guide told us that we were now standing at the spot of the furthest point of impact of the plane into the building. We turned around, facing outside... and we were several hundred yards inside. The corridor was so long... It's beyond description the idea of the plane making it that far through such a stout building (remember, the workers on the other side of the Pentagon had no idea that anything had happened). The effectiveness of the attack was crystal clear. And yet, simultaneously, the futility.

I think I'll always remember that visit today.