Arlington, Va. – This week the Pentagon Memorial Fund will break ground on a Visitor Education Center adjacent to the Pentagon, fulfilling a long‑standing promise to provide a dedicated space for education and remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attack on the nation’s headquarters.
Honoring sacrifice and teaching future generations
The center, slated to open in 2029, will house twelve interactive exhibits that trace the timeline of the attack, detail the local first‑response effort, and explain the global impact that followed. A gallery will showcase personal stories from survivors, military personnel and families whose lives were forever changed.
“We remain the only site that doesn’t have a dedicated visitor‑education component, and it’s incumbent upon us to educate this generation and future generations on the impacts of that day,” said Joe Kornhoff, executive director of the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
First‑hand recollections from Arlington’s own responders
Retired Arlington County Fire Department deputy fire chief Michael Gowen recalled the harrowing day when he and his crew were called to the Pentagon. “We were basically in and out of that building all day, either doing search and rescue. In one area we were in; unfortunately, there were not any survivors,” Gowen said.
Gowen, who had been on the job only 2½ years when the call came, described the grim reality of finding victims where they fell. “Unfortunately, there were a lot of people in there that just… they died where they were at,” he said, recalling a gentleman who was close to a stairwell but did not survive.
Personal stories that bring the tragedy into focus
Joe Kornhoff highlighted the human cost of the attack, noting that “Jennifer Lewis and Kenneth Lewis were a married couple on the plane and passed away together,” and that the youngest victim was three‑year‑old Dana Falkenberg.
“On 9/11, when we were asked to go into the Pentagon without all of our gear on and breathe that toxic air, we went in. We went through the door, and so I would like some of the people today to go through the door for us,” Gowen added, underscoring the bravery of first responders.
Community support and future impact
The Visitor Education Center will serve as a permanent reminder of the heroism and sacrifice displayed 25 years ago, offering Arlington residents, visitors and school groups a place to learn about the events that shaped the nation.
Local officials and veterans groups have expressed strong support for the project, viewing it as a vital addition to the Pentagon Memorial and a means to keep the memory of those lost alive for generations to come.
Construction is expected to begin this week, with the center’s design emphasizing accessibility, interactive learning and respectful commemoration. When completed, the facility will join other national memorials in providing a comprehensive narrative of the September 11 attacks, ensuring that the lessons of that day are never forgotten.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
