The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial opens to the public

On September 11, 2008, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial officially opened to the public, marking the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Situated southwest of the Pentagon on approximately two acres of land, the memorial was established to honor the 184 individuals killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building on September 11, 2001. Its design includes 184 individual benches, each dedicated to a victim. The benches are positioned along the aircraft's flight path and arranged according to the victims' ages, ranging from three to seventy-one years. This arrangement provides visitors with a structured way to understand the individuals represented by the memorial. The opening established a permanent public space for historical remembrance, personal reflection, and education about the events of September 11.